Feb. 14, Nikolas Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and fatally shot 17 students. This event had many casualties, that it actually outranked the infamous Columbine shooting in the number of fatalities, knocking it out of the list of the top ten deadliest mass shootings. Out of the 17 killed, 14 of the victims were students and three were staff members.

“The recent shooting in Parkland, Florida broke my heart,” junior Ishaan Modi said. “I remember reading the headline and feeling my stomach drop.”

It seems a pattern in America has developed over the past few years. Every time there is a major shooting, people grieve for a few days, then there will be political discussion regarding gun control, then within a few weeks the event fades out of the headlines and the cycle repeats a few months later. However, in the days following the event, surviving teens from the high school are speaking out and inspiring other young people. President Donald Trump has offered ideas of his own, suggesting that the country starts arming teachers to increase school safety, as well as possibly raising the age where citizens can purchase guns.

“As long as we as a country are providing such deadly weapons to U.S. citizens, we will continue to have massacres,” senior Zayna Salih said. “Also, they throw the words ‘troubled teen’ [and] ‘neglected boy’ around as if it justifies his actions. That, in no way, makes it okay to shoot up a school out of spite.”

Teens from the high school have used the platform they have been given via television interviews to share their stories and urge watchers to rally. This group of teens is refusing to be swept under the rug, and they desperately want change. Students from the school such as Emma Gonzalez have spoken out, as she gave a passionate speech at a gun control rally. Fred Guttenberg, a parent of a victim and student survivor Chris Grady confronted Marco Rubio, Florida’s state senator, about gun laws and receiving money from the National Rifle Association’s gun lobby at a CNN Town Hall meeting the week after the incident. Students everywhere are conducting major protests and walkouts promoting gun regulation.

“I am so inspired by the survivors,” Modi said. “In the wake of tragedy, they are rallying to promote positive change. They are a perfect example of how our generation is a force to be reckoned with. We will make ourselves heard and imprint our mark on the world.”