In today's media, there is so much negativity broadcasted, including the violence depicted in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. But, in "After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change", the speaker, Samantha Fuentes, explains how she has changed her darkest thoughts about the incident into a positive outlook for the community. I think it is truly beautiful the way she fights through her emotional pain and turns her painful experiences into societal development. She describes that if nobody tries to make a change for these types of situations, nothing will ever get done. Fuentes' words to the public are extremely powerful and inspiring, and it is tough souls like hers that will lead the American society out of the dark.
I feel this is so meaningful and important that these victims from the Parkland Shooting who have suffered in numerous ways, are now using their experiences to push for change in our government and legislation. So many of them were injured, have PTSD or similar disorders, or know people who were killed, but instead of letting it drag them down they are trying to prevent similar shootings from occurring again in a time where school shootings are becoming more and more common. These events are not only limited to the Parkland area but are also spread all throughout the country to promote awareness of the signs that can lead to school shootings and to implement new legislation to restrict gun control. I am just in awe with how strong so many of these victims are for managing to make such great things from such a horrible event. It is also terrible to see the impact that the memories of the shootings have on some victims such as Samantha, who was shown in the video, how frequently has panic attacks from PTSD and can have problems if there is even a loud sound. All of this just shows how we are not doing enough to prevent these catastrophes and that we need to step it up.
I find it so empowering that throughout going through the school shooting and now suffering with PTSD, this young woman has still built enough strength to speak at protests, speak in this documentary, and travel to D.C to be another’s young voice making an attempt at tackling the poor gun laws . I just finished learning about psychological disorders and PTSD is awful, the constant stress, tension, and anxiety about an event that didn’t even happen yesterday, but can last for years! Years of pain because of the lack of force, law, control, and common sense It is truly heartbreaking and the signs in the video really say it all for me, “how many is too many?”
I worked in a group we watched "After Parkland, Turning Trauma into Change." We discussed how visible Samantha Fuente's trauma is, compared with other Parkland survivors that we've heard speak. We think that her visible trauma adds strength to her fight for gun control because it demonstrates to the viewer that her trauma is raw and genuine and that she is passionate about gun legislation. In the film, Samantha threw up while giving a speech. This stood out to us because we wondered what moment in her speech triggered this reaction. It also reveals the depths of her trauma. We also discussed how much the March For Our Lives Movement has grown since the Parkland shooting and since marches in major cities in 2018. Now, more states have March For Our Lives Chapters. We discussed how this movement has come close to home, as there's a Rhode Island chapter and an organized march. I'm involved in the Rhode Island Chapter, too. This film truly opened our eyes to the lasting trauma that survivors of gun violence face.
The short film "After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change," showed that young people today not only can but also should stand up for what they believe in. Samantha Fuentes' explained her own experience of having metal in her face as a result of the Parkland shooting. This was something that was both horrifying and shocking to me, but in spite of such trauma, Samantha expressed that it is undeniably important to stand up for what you believe is right. She showed that every person's voice and opinion matters even when it seems like no one is listening. Similarly, many students have recently voiced their opinions more often and on a higher level, showing that youth today is headed in a direction that will be beneficial in society. For example, in 2018, at least half of the students at our school in Rhode Island walked out and marched to the state house to protest gun control and emphasize the need for reform. These efforts show the increasing role that young people are taking on for the amelioration of the society in which we live, which is exactly what Samantha Fuentes has spoken out for.
The main thing that stood out to me was when Samantha Fuentes had her anxiety/panic attack during one of her speeches in the beginning of the video. It just confirms how messed up the world can be, and how painful it can get. It hit me deeply when the speaker spoke about how she can still feel the metal in her face; this shouldn't be the case, and it is so sad to see everything that's happening, happen. We've all heard about the Parkland shooting, but have we done anything to prevent these events from occurring again? Or will it take the story of a survivor who had to hide under their best friend's body? Gun reform is VITAL to our safety and it just confirmed that so much more for myself after watching this video.
@Jason Sibrian I agree with your statement about her first speech, I thought it was really impactful seeing the pain she endures on a daily basis and that she is a normal human being. To save students and innocent lives, we as citizens do need to step up to continue fighting for gun reform.
THe omens that stood out to me was when Fuentes was on stage reciting her speech. Throughout the different clips, we, the viewers, can hear and see Howe frustrated and Howe passionately she is about gun safety, to the point she turn up in front of national tv and continue to recite her speeches like nothing happened. This stood out to me because Fuentes is represnting the youth that want safer gun control. We are sick and tire of many political figures and others not listening and saying their “thoughts Andy prayers” go out to a public space, like a school, that’s suffers from a tragic gun violence. Enough I said enough, isn’t the line that’s stood out to me in the documentary and I couldn’t agree more.
The moments that stood out to me in the film was when Fuentes was giving her speech because you could tell the frustration and anger that she has over school shootings and her being a victim of one. One thing that surprised me was the huge amount of mental illnesses one can encounter after being in a traumatic situation such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. A message that I got from this film is that you can channel pain into fuel for change, even though one goes through one of the most traumatic experiences, this gives them the dedication to fight for change.
Something that stood out to me in the film titled “After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change” is when she threw up while she was giving her speech, this stood out to me because it shows a strong gesture of how much she really is disgusted at what she is opposing to. What in this mini documentary surprises me the most is her story on how close she actually came to her death in the school of Stoneman Douglas. I feel like the message that she is trying to get across is that the people have to stand up against this when the politicians won’t
What stood out for me in this film was that that she survived the attack on the school wounded and all because usually the students are in the same room as one another and how exactly was she left behind. Something that surprised me was when she said that she had PTSD and that when there was loud noises she would freak out, such as when there was a slammed door, loud sneeze, when someone beeps their horn… etc. A message that I got from this film club was that yes it is hard because the schools are not as protected as other government establishments, the government aren’t agreeing with gun control, etc. A question that I have is why exactly did she want to join the protest, is there something reasonable and realistic that they can achieve. When the gun control was just becoming a protest there was a lot of people involved, I would go out and see the amount of people who had gone, and meanwhile I understand where they’re coming from, I don’t agree with them. Something also on my mind is that if it’s not a gun, there will be other weapons people will find to cause others harm. If the guns are not permitted legally, then they will be bought without the government and enforcements knowing at all. This film reminds me of all the other shootings and lockdowns I’ve seen and gone through and all that everyone goes through during this process because it has to do with a certain type of weapon.
I thought this film was very impactful to me. It showed me how truly terrible the sufffering of the victims are. The emotional and physical trauma is something no one should ever have to face. I think that there is a lot of frustration coming from victims because they feel as though no one is listening in the government. We as students want change so badly but it feels as though government officails dont undertsand our position and make decsisons based purely off of politics and that is very aggrivating.
This short film brought back the emotions I first felt when I the heard news of the Parkland shooting on February 14th of last year. It’s very difficult to imagine what the survivors went through, especially because watching the news or reading an article makes it feel so far away and as if it’s nothing more than a news report. You keep thinking “this won’t happen to me”, but the survivors must’ve thought that at one point too. After the realization hit me that this happened only a couple hours away from my school, everyone around me began to have a fear that our school really was unsafe. This video also reminded me of all of the events that occured last year because of the parkland shooting and the fight for gun control that’s still happening. Samantha Fuentes really made this short film so inspiring and impactful because she told people that although you may not think it’s your place or that you don’t have the ability to speak out on these issues, sometimes you’re forced to because no one else will.
The first school shooting in my parents memory happened in 1988 and started in Highland Park. The shooter was a woman named Laurie Dann, and she went to Hubbard Woods Elementary School and shot 6 children, killing 8 year old Nicholas Corwin. He would have been 38 this year.
There were 160 school shootings between Laurie Dann and Sandy Hook. The shooter went in to Sandy Hook Elementary and didn’t leave until he had killed 20 six and seven years olds, six adults, and himself. They would all be 12 and 13, just a year older than my youngest sister.
114 more shootings between Sandy Hook and Parkland, where 17 people were killed and 14 were wounded. Now, the students of Parkland are standing up and speaking out against gun violence and pushing for legislation that will save lives. They are amazing human beings, and their words and actions have inspired countless teens into speaking out for what they believe.
But in the year since Parklands, there have been 29 school shootings on US soil, and there has been an average of 1 mass shooting a day in the United States. Despite how inspiring these students are, no major legislation has been passed, and people are still dying. How many more people have to die for something substantial to change? Since Parkland, my school has been threatened 4 times. What if the 5th time, something actually happens? Will our story be the one that causes sweeping legislation? Or will we just be another entry in the ever growing list of American tragedies?
Seeing the pain and suffering that goes on behind the scenes for the victims of school shootings was what made this particularly striking for me because when we think of the casualties of a school shooting, we think of the people that were physically lost. We think of the people who were shot and killed during the shootings, but there is so much more loss than that. What we don't think about is the loss experienced by the survivors. Not only have they seen people they know and care about die, but their lives will forever be changed. Samantha continues to deal with PTSD, and everyday life can be scary because of it. Her life will never be the same, and that loss is also significant.
Within this film, there is an aspect of reality that is realized. This consists of the fact that there is always a threat, regardless. It is in our best nature to take preventive action, to spread awareness and increase our knowledge about the wrongdoings and misunderstandings of others. By incorporating ethics into our conscience, and being accepting of other individuals perspectives, we put our best effort in taking action to prevent tragedies such as this shooting. Despite our best efforts or our own mental realization and understanding, there are still those who do not understand. In a sense, most of these devastations are grounded by psychological roots. One's own personal experience and perspective, as well as choice to be the difference, is integrated within their mentality - one of which is to help or harm. In all, it takes a cognitive effort and understanding to put an end to this harm, and spread awareness to the perspectives of others.
This film was really powerful in showing a side of gun violence that we never think about or even really hear about either. After an event like the shooting at Parkland, those kids will never be able to enter a classroom the same way. They will never be able to hear a fire alarm go off without fearing a gun before an actual fire. That day is embedded into their everyday lives, but we can easily forget it. This side of a shooting showed me yet another reason why standing against gun violence is such an important thing to do. One gun could change someone's life forever. One gun can also end someone's life forever. One gun could change the way one person hears a door slam. It's much more than life or death, guns only lead to death or a life full of reminders of death. It seems unfair that we have to worry about things like guns when it comes to our education. Like when my parents decided to call me out when there was a gun threat one time at school. Missing out on learning and being a kid because of guns is just reality now, but that needs to change.
I was really moved by this film because it shows young advocates, thrust into the media (perhaps unwillingly), to expose where we as a society have gone wrong. The bravery that is shown through Samantha's story paints a picture of a new frontier of activists. These young people, the same age as I am, are creating monumental change through the power of voice. They refuse to be silenced, and it is imperative that we listen.
A question I still have after watching this film is where are the people in this video now? There was a lot of footage of Samantha at the March for Our Lives in DC and meeting with government officials about a year ago but I'm not sure what was from this year. There is always a lot of social media, TV or news reports surrounding such a horrific event like this right after it happens and the activism these kids had was amazing. This event caused kids to stand up for something they felt so deeply about and makes kids around the country feel empowered. The thing that makes me wonder though is where is the news coverage a year later? It was mentioned on the news and people talk about it in remembrance but I think this conversation should never settle. There are so many people affected by gun violence everyday and this event highlighted that anyone can be affected at any moment. The topic of gun violence should be in our daily news and class conversations but this video reminded me that it has gotten lost in a sea of issues. I personally think this issue should be at the forefront and this video, and day in general, is a reminder to us all to never forget and never stop standing up for what we think is wrong.
After watching how much the Parkland shooting affected some of these students, I have realized how big of a role parents play in a community. Parents are the ones that set the precedent for how persons in a community interact. If parents treat their children with positivity and strength, their good deeds will spread to schools where children interact with other children. By doing this, you stop children from feeling ostracized in the first place, hopefully stopping this problem of mass shootings at its core, which is bullying and leaving no child behind.
After watching this video, I have so many questions, concerns, reasons to be scared, but I think the biggest question that comes to mind is "what can I do? How can I truly help?". Yes, I can participate in a march, I can hold a sign and chant a chant, but what is that really doing for anyone? I want to figure out a way to use my voice effectively, or I want to know if I have been using my voice effectively. For some reason I feel like I need reassurance and positive feedback, I need guidance and direction but at the same time I want to be my own person and use my own voice. I am feeling angry but afraid, determined but confused as to why, and empowered to create change but don't know where to start. Where do we begin? What can I do?
The thing that surprised me was how I hadn't even thought very much about how the shooting affected the survivors. Obviously, when you think of shootings, your mind immediately gravitates towards the casualties. You don't remember the brother who misses his brother that was murdered. You don't think about the kids too scared to even open their eyes when they hear loud noises. I'm mainly surprised I didn't think of that much.
The PTSD was something that hit a nerve for me. My cousin was shot in a school shooting and the anxiety around that issue continues to remain in my family. My dad's fears and anxieties were amplified when my school experienced shooting threats and a pulled fire alarm day of. I realized the abundance of students and family that were affected by these events - not only the people physically scarred, but those emotionally scarred. My dad, who was an entirely different state when my cousin was shot, was triggered by the idea of a school shooting because he's had it affect his personal life which makes it all the more real.
The quote that Samantha says that was incredibly striking to me was,"I can touch the top of my lip and feel the metal". We do not realize that every time she speaks, every time she eats, and every time she brushes her teeth, she will have a physical reminder of the horrible day she survived at school a year ago. She noted that she is currently suffering from PTSD due to the events, so the fact that the bullet still remains in her in truly chilling in the worst way.
It is extremely difficult to watch teenagers who are my age go through something so tragic and awful. It upsets me that people only started discussing the topic of gun violence after the Parkland shooting happened. It is very empowering to watch other teenagers stand up and take action on an issue that is not nearly addressed as much as it should be.
The film emphasized that the victims are more than just statistics and casualties. There is so much trauma and permanent consequences that the community now faces and it's more than what we typically think about. Yes, it's awful and terrible that 17 people were killed, but it is also terrifying that so many people may always flinch and be full of fear each time they hear someone sneeze.
This video has helped me gain a broader perspective on the whole idea of gun violence and the emotions and trauma that victims actually have to deal with every day. This video showed me how brave these people have to be in order to display all of their feelings to the world and how they must have constant mental and physical reminders of this event in their lives every day when they look into the mirror.
This film really opened my eyes to the difficulty of being in the public eye. Samantha had thrown up on stage, experienced panic attacks and suffered from PTSD after the Parkland shooting. She still, however, persisted and wanted to be a voice for victims of gun violence. I think people get so caught up in media and who is "famous" that we forget that these people are actual human beings who face their own daily struggles. Even more surprising, Samantha is only 18 and has dedicated herself to being the voice for thousands of people. This role requires an extreme amount of responsibility to maintain its stance in power. As such a young person, it is pretty amazing to see someone else my age make a significant difference in the world simply by changing the conversation. I hope that more young people will stand up for what they believe in without fearing the barriers. I also hope, though, that people would be able to understand their struggles and individuality without disregarding it for simplicity.
The moment in the film that stood out to me the most was when Samantha threw up while speaking. The fact that her trauma is so severe that she gets physically sick when discussing what occurred is truly saddening. I have the utmost respect for her for being so courageous in the face of adversity. Furthermore, this film helped me to internalize the shooting. Its easy to look from afar and feel compassion for the victims, but putting yourself in their place is another thing altogether.
Last year, around the same time as the Parkland shooting, our school was under a gun threat. While thankfully it was false, it still felt very scary and real with all that was happening in the world around us. It had occurred the week of our school's variety show, so putting two and two together, I thought what better time to shoot up a school than when everyone, 1500+ students and staff, are in the auditorium. I had heard about the threat the previous day and had done my best to spread it around to raise awareness of it. I did not go to school that following day, having feared that the worst would happen. No person should have to fear their life to receive an education. No person should have to ever be threatened to the possibility of death.
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To think of the amount of trauma and fear occured due to just a threat really puts the PTSD the people who actually experience gun violence into perspective. We should be worried and scared to live in a world where gun violence is so common and it is vital that we don't stop the conversation so that change can happen.
The moment that stood out the most to me while watching the video was the little clips of the march that showed the large crowds in attendance. This was a reminder of how many people are backing this cause and are showing an immense amount of support. Everyone who put the March For Our Lives together did this so everyone else does not have to go through the pain and suffering that the students at MSD had to go through.
This film helped me realize a lot, but more importantly, showed me the level of gratitude that I should have for the life that I am living right now because there are people in a worse place than I am and that I should just be thankful that I have what I have.
This film showed me a side of the people that were really truly hurting deep down. It gave me a perspective I have never seen. All these teens angry and hurt that school a place of education is a place of ptsd or hurt now. It is sad but so powerful to see everyone come together and support one another in their time of grieve. How are we supposed to move on without confronting the situation? We move on by fixing the mistakes that were made and coming together in peace to help one another understand. This film showed braveness.
I think that although this video was only 5 or 6 minutes it was very powerful because we get to see kids who have been directly affected by school shootings step up and fight for change. It was also really eye opening to see how hard Samantha has been affected by the school shooting due to the fact that she now suffers from PTSD. Most kids from day to day aren't that bothered by loud noises or slamming doors, it never dawned on me that those noises could bring back difficult times in a persons life. I think that kids standing up to fight for change is really powerful because you usually don't see 16-18 years olds in front of a crowd sharing their beliefs.
The moment that most stood out to me was when she threw up on stage. Her passion, fear, and vulnerability was so so apparent at that moment. Following with a, "I just threw up on national television, and it feels great," the student showed her true self in that moment and the severity of the cause.
@Ilana I also think this moment shows an extremely admirable perseverance to her cause. Despite the fact that her emotions overwhelmed her to a point that brought her to throwing up, she continues to fight and speak up about an issue she's genuinely invested in. I don't think I could even imagine emotions that elicit such a strong reaction but she feels them regularly and pushes through them for the prospect of change.
This allowed me to realize that as a student, I am lucky to not have any fears following me to school. I am lucky to not have to worry another violent act occurring in my lifetime. But should I be? These students were in the same position as me and the roles could've been reversed very easily. I learned from this film that the pain and suffering didn't end after the shooting stopped, it just started. It began the ripple of change but the fear will follow these kids forever. I now know that it's up to our generation to make the difference in our community so that no one is ever put in the same position as those at MSD.
In this film i was given a glimpse into the life challenges that are faced after experiencing trauma to this level. I am able to connect to the idea of being a part of a movement for change because of my own advocacy on behalf of my disease. Similarly, I spoke with my state senators and members of congress to enlighten those who don't know about the daily struggles we face. In the case of Samantha, she had to explain to people what she struggled with and why it deserved attention. In my case, I had to help some officials understand the challenges i face day to day in order for them to remember me when they go vote on important laws that affect my well being.
I think what really stands out to me is the sheer passion behind Samantha's words. Her experiences are not mirrored to many other people's, as she has seen images that will affect her for a lifetime. To be able to fight through all this pain, anger, and sadness, and go out to speak to others about her beliefs, is remarkable. Her courage is unmatched, and I admire her for all she has done.
Samantha's bravery was really surprising but touching on another level, how she was able to speak her mind freely, having the first-hand experience on the topic and what she felt was needed to be done, being a survivor of something so horrific. Her quest to bring more understanding and awareness to what has been and needs to be done to help those who are in need of assistance after such events is something that I admire and it leads me to believe that there is hope, hope for a better and safer future in the U.S. and in the world as a whole.
The one part of the video that really stuck out to me was the raw emotions in her voice as she was addressing the crowd. I could never imagine how scared she must have been during the shooting and how scary it is to talk about those issues openly. I believe that having kids advocate for change is very important for our nation. We need to have an open dialogue on the issues facing our nation and youth movements like march for our lives are crucial for reform to happen.
The biggest thing that stood out to me from the film was how she has gone through so much, yet she stayed so strong. After being a part of such a deadly shooting, she mourned. However, she wanted to stop the violence and never have any other person be in her position. The time that Ms. Fuentes talked about the metal piece in her face showed how it's not normal for kids her age to be in that position. Furthermore, I believe that Samantha Fuentes is such a strong individual and should keep fighting to protect other teens around the US and also around the world.
@Name I agree with you that what Samantha Fuentes did was extremely brave and admirable. It must be so hard for people to go through what she had gone through or even try to comprehend what happened with the Parkland shooting. It's amazing how she can stand up in front of all of those people and take charge of an issue that is starting to become a huge topic in America today.
The moments in this film that stood out most to me was when I saw the raw emotion. The anger, sadness and hurt Samantha showed through her words and emotions. This poor girl has suffered enough but is constantly reminded of this horrific event every day. And yet, she still fights to make a difference.
I felt very uneasy while watching this video on school shootings. I feel awful for Samantha and the tragedies that she had to attempt to overcome. But she stated that nobody truly understands where she is coming from unless they have also had an AR-15 barrel held to their head. It's very difficult to sympathize with someone who has gone throw such a traumatic experience like she has, but she is attempting to spread awareness to the rest of the world that this needs to come to an end. People need to take action and provide protection for every school before it's too late.
After watching this film, the part that stook out to me the most was when she said that she didn't feel like the same person anymore. I think anyone who went through the same event as her would feel the same exact way. It's traumatizing and changes how a person views the world. She also mentions how she has PTSD and is startled from loud noises such as a car honking. This shouldn't have to be what an 18 year old goes through, she shouldn't have to feel this way. I believe that what these kids are doing is the best thing that they can do now. Bringing awareness to gun violence and school shootings is the first step to prevention. It allows people to come to getting and create a sense of community for other similar tragedies. I went to the March For Our Life discussion a while back and seeing how strong and powerful all these students are for standing up for what they know is right is truly inspirational.
The emotion and pain that the girl in the video was shown by her tone in her speeches, her interactions with reporters, her throwing up while talking about her experience. That made the issue more clear and personal to me because she is just a student like us but she had to suffer through this horrible event. when she talked about having a bullet differed off the wall and into her face and having to stare into the barrel of a rifle really made me more passionate about wanting this problem ended as soon as possible.
There was a lot that stood out to me in this short film. I was supprised that she could speak so well to such a large group of people. She was able to recover so well from things that didn't go her way and the audience loved her. I don't think I'd ever be able to do that. I think she does really well as a speaker and poet, and I felt very motivated to make a change after listening to her speak. I will be able to take away the passion she had, and the importance of making our schools safer. I will be able to better understand what it must have been like to be in her shoes at that moment, and it makes me desperate to make a change so no one else has to be in that situation.
This video was heavy. The young woman took a short time she had in this video to give me an opportunity and step back to think about all the privileges I have. I can go to school safe, I can grow up and move on, but some of her friends never will because of the event of that day. Her speech and her story moved me, she made me want to stand up on that stage with her and cheer her on. The main piece of her story that I really connected with was that she wasn't attacking gun control laws in America or bashing our president, but she was begging for safety in general and a better solution for troubled youth. She experienced a life changing event and she will never be the same, and after listening to her speech I don't think I will either.
In this short film, I was really surprised about the affects Samantha has to live with to this day. It's unfortunate, but she has to live with metal permanently in her face. She didn't choose that, but everytime she touches her face, she is going to be reminded of the shooting. Every time she hears a door close or a loud sneeze she's taken back to the day of the shooting. That's unjust. A student shouldn't have these affects from going to school.
I thought this film was interesting and am proud for the stand the kids have made after the incident. I have a rather personal experience with gun violence and the effects that it has. I have had a gun held to me in a armed robbery before and it is a scary experience to say the least. Before the incident I did not care much about the whole topic, but you don't realize how important it is until it happens to you. I wouldn't want my experience to happen to anyone and if there is anything you can do to avoid putting guns in the hands of the wrong people I am all for it.
After watching this film, I understood more clearly how the lives of the people involved in traumatic experiences are changed. She was able to turn a horrible event into a passion that expressed her feelings and advocated for what she believed in. She turned her negative emotions into activism. This film showed how the lives of those affected in shootings are forever changed. While their lives have changed from PTSD and physical injuries, the rest of the country seems to have moved on. How little was done as a result of this event this builds more and more frustration for those affected. It stood out to me how she threw up during her speech and continued what she was saying. This shows how passionate she was and how the message she shared was much more important.
The short clip with Samantha helped me realize a lot of things. The fact that she developed PTSD made me realize how much her life was affected. She says in the video how she wishes she could appreciate D.C. more. After the shooting, Samantha can't even appreciate things her life anymore because she is too worried about her PTSD and what is going on around her.
Samantha's trumatizing experience made me realize just how strong people are. Samantha had such a horrific experience but she was able to power through and not let that get the worst of her. She is trying to make a change and she is participating in speeches to create change. I thought that this is very inspiring her strength and experience.
An interesting point in the short film came at the end when she says, "When is enough, enough?" I think that this holds very true to how slow the government is to changing and it shows that when a huge shooting like this takes place in a school nothing seems to happen except mourning.
This short video made me realize how much people are affected by these terrible events. No one should have to go through what Samantha did and have to deal with the mental and physical consequences of these terrible events. The fact that she can't even listen to loud noises and is afraid of going to school is terrible. No one should be afraid to learn at school. I was surprised when she threw up on stage and was proud of it. This makes me feel more knowledgeable about the topic and the people affected by it.
The most shocking thing to me about this film is the lack of action being taken at a government level. How many lives are going to be taken to even be heard by lawmakers? Having the power to change laws is just as powerful as having a gun in your hand.
This video really hits a soft spot. Seeing the effects of her trauma first hand is really deep. She threw up on stage, which was awful--but then she mentions the fact that people don't see what happens offstage, which means it's even worse. They then had a clip of her breaking down, which shows how unstable she has become as a result of something so preventable. The title "Turning Trauma into Change" is also very impactful. Samantha would not let her trauma get the best of her, but instead she used it to create change. It's a very admirable quality when people can overcome something awful to try to make better for the future.
This 5-minute video showed me a different perspective on gun violence around the United States. Through this video, we see lots of individuals traumatized by the Parkland shooter, but failing to express that they are depressed, affected by the shooter, or suffered PTSD. Samantha Fuentes shows courage and bravery by attacking gun violence, based on what happened to her. Her trauma and her story will live on forever, because she clearly calls out the lawmakers that keep shutting the door on her.
In the film, Samantha was 18 just attending another day of school. No one really predicts tragedy, especially if they are just going on through their everyday routine going to school. What stood out to me was when she said "I don't think this path was the one I was supposed to take." You never know when something can happen. It's frightening to think that I'm 17 and I just follow an average daily routine just like she did. The shooting lead her to another path, it obviously wasn't one she was expecting, but the PTSD also gave her a voice, and the voice gave her power. It amazes me how she turned to trauma into power. Power that gives her the strength to protect her opinion, and her beliefs. You can never predict tragedy or trauma, but you can decide what path both of them lead you to, and how they change you.
This video educated me on the terrible Parkland shooting that I did not know a lot about before. I think Samantha had some outstanding points kids should grasp onto like taking trauma and getting better from it not falling into a hole. The one thing that I suggest to her is changing the tone in which she talks. Don't get me wrong I can't even bare to imagine what she went through but I think she should talk in a more friendly tone. For me, I found it hard to listen to everything she said because her tone was very hostile. I think she could reach more people if she was a little more calm and maybe cracked a joke in her speech every once in awhile. All in all though this information/experience can really help kids go through tough times and learn from them
Speaking up and putting yourself into the world to speak against gun violence is a tough thing to do but it's so strong of Samantha to use her personal experience to tell people her story. To use her story and move other people and tell them how big of an issue gun violence is. When Samantha threw up on stage, it was a lot more powerful than it should've been and even though it was unintentional, it showed how appalled she was by the whole problem. It showed how much hate she had towards the idea of school shootings and people using guns mindlessly. Samantha is beyond strong for speaking up about an event that will affect her for the rest of her life and I think that's the bravest and most life changing thing in the world. One person, like Samantha, who speaks up about her experience and how she feels about it can change the world.
It's so sad that these kids had to experience a school shooting, something that shouldn't have happened in the first place. It must be hard to live your life with PTSD. Those kids who lost their lives could have been successful or an impactful person. We will never know what they could've become. I'm just very confused about why no one is doing anything about this violence. We can see examples of school shooting and/or violence in general almost every month. What more do we need, how many more lives need to be lost in order for the government to do something about it.
This 5-minute film helped me realize many things, specifically about the world. I think it's beautiful that these kids have the power to "turn trauma into change," especially after having experienced what they have. They refused to let their fears get the better of them, in fact, used those fears to drive them towards change. 10% of life is what happens to you. The other 90% is how you react to what happens to you. The Parkland students chose to react to the horrors they faced in the best way possible; fighting for change. They couldn't bear to think about other kids having to fear for their lives in a place where they are supposed to be safe, as the students of Parkland did. Nothing can change what happened in their past, but they can use that to change their future.
Samantha Fuentes' experience with the school shooting at her school really stood out to me. Her speech was moving and emotional. The fact that she developed PTSD and still struggles after the fact shows even more importantly the impact on students, staff, at the school that witness these events. And even though she struggles, she still protest and speaks out because she doesn't want other kids to go through the same experience she did.
I think the moment that stood out to me was when she threw up during her speech. After she threw up, she didn't care what anyone else thought; she was excited about it afterwards. She screamed into the crowd wanting them to chant for her. It surprised me that she reacted the way that she did. If I threw up on national television, I would be really embarrassed. I would run of the stage and probably cry from the embarrassment. She didn't do that. She embraced it. She had enough courage and bravery to stay up there and finish her speech. It caught me off guard but it is great for her to have the ability to do that.
A moment that stood out to me in this film was her feeling of PTSD and how the slamming of doors, car horns, and loud sneezing could throw her off and make her uneasy. This feeling that she and other students have is the most impactful part of this video. She will live the rest of her life with fear that another shooting will happen and with all these feelings she is in a strong position to make sure that no other kids will need to feel that pain. Another thing that stuck out was a poster at the end of the clip that states, "How many more" these three words stuck out to me with the scary reality that even a year from the Stoneman Douglas shooting we still fear how many more until every school is safely guarded.
Going through a traumatic event as traumatic as the Stoneman Douglas shooting alone will make someone see the world through a different lens for the rest of their life. It is amazing that Samantha can live with this PTSD and talk about it to groups of people so that she can fight for change. It helps people who are to scared to go to school due to safety reasons to actually try and make changes to prevent events like these. The national attention of this event made my school step up their security, which is very fortunate because it is nice to know that schools care about safety. Samantha gave hope to many kids who have poor security situations at their schools. I hope no individual ever has to go through a similar experience. Students should go to school to learn and interact, not to worry about an act of violence occurring unexpectedly.
What moment stood out to you?
When she said, "Every day she wonders whether she is doing the right thing, whether this is the path she was supposed to go down, and every time she looks at the mirror she doesn't recognize herself".
All of us change so quickly each second goes by and we are a little bit older, stronger, wiser. Each second we make mistakes, each second we learn from them. Every night we come into our bathroom and face our own reflection. Accepting the things that have happened and continuously doing with what we have. Yes, maybe she wasn't supposed to do this and she wasn't supposed to get shot in the face. BUT SHE DID. With this one change in her life, one shooting, one school. MILLIONS of living constantly touched and pushed for the better. She is making this world a better place for all, and that is just absolutely beautiful.
I empathize for her because this is an extremely tough experience to get past, and I can't imagine being in that situation, but I feel the fear-mongering that was associated with this march was an issue. People said if you didn't agree with these students about taking away guns then you didn't care that students died and that you're a horrible person. I don't feel taking away guns would end attacks on schools. People who want to do damage will do damage by whatever means necessary. The left tore into Republican politicians that defended their second amendment and said they didn't care about the dead kids. These Parkland students and other protestors can protest about whatever they want and with limit boundaries on how they do it, but responding to the opposition with angst is never right. The main boy who led this movement (I forgot his name) used vulgar language towards many politicians and people who wanted to keep guns and even told them that they wanted kids to die. This is ridiculous and loses credibility for him because of course, no one wanted those kids to die except the gunman himself. I feel there are better ways of ending school violence, and I feel that is how this march should have gone, but props to all of the students who spoke form the heart and conquered their fears because I love to see people expressing their first amendment.
When I finished watching this film I was left with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I tried to consider the situation samantha was in, but I couldn't even to begin to fathom what she went through that day, and what she continues to go through every single day. I was truly moved when she explained the severity of her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I shiver when I hear stories like this, when normal people are afraid to do normal things. I encourage anyone who has power to do anything in the government should watch this film, because it changes perspective.
The moment of the film that really stood out to me was when Samantha was able to stand on stage and continue to fight for what she believed in even though she was truly suffering inside from her physical and emotional pain. Despite having panic attacks, suffering from the symptoms of PTSD, and even throwing up on stage, she was able to push through and express her thoughts. The audience experiences that detrimental effects events like these have on teens. Samantha even mentions how she would have never expected her life to turn out the way it did. Her ability to carry on goes to show how inspired people get after they experience something so tragic. However, I believe that people shouldn't have to wait around for a near-death experience to finally gain the courage to speak up. Hopefully spreading awareness of these issues will influence bystanders to stand up and fight for what is right before someone else has to experience what it feels like to be on the verge of dying.
Last year when I heard about the Parkland shooting, I was shocked. One moment in this video that stood out to me was when she was talking about how she can feel pieces of metal in her face. I thought about how what if that were to happen to me and at my school. I think she's so brave for speaking out publically and protesting, we are the same age, but I'm not sure I'd be strong enough to do that. I thought this video was powerful and emotional, when she was talking, I imagined being in her position and I have so much respect for her, everything she's been through, and the way she handles herself.
Everyone is going to still have questions, but my main question is why is it still going on. Like when is enough, enough? How many more school shootings will it have to be before lawmakers realize that these kids are the future of America, and are dying in public schools. In 20 years my kid/kids will be 10 years old and will be going to a public school. Will I have to worry about the threat of school shootings than? If anything school shootings could be a lot worse with more fatalities. It is such a scary reality that we live. Like I'm expected to come home from school everyday but what if one day that doesn't happen?
@Dana S
I agree with you Dana. But, I think that there are many different issues relating to gun violence (school shootings, gang activity, etc.) and that they all have different solutions.
The question that I pondered after watching the video was 'are we aiming to end gun violence... or lessen it?' Although 'end it' may be the easy answer, it seems impossible because ultimately, it is not possible to have that much control over a group of individuals. So, if we are aiming to lessen and control gun violence, how does that change how we handle situations involving gun violence and (like you were saying) the action we take against it?
What stood out to me was the trauma that she faces day in and day out now. How she still goes to these huge rallies and asks for change even when loud noises or unexpected events trigger her PTSD. There were many surprises in the short film. I think one thing was these little kids, who couldn't be older than 10, were at one of the gun control rallies. One, it was sad to think that they live in a world now where they fear to go to school, a place where they should feel free and loose. However, it was weird how they are at the rally and I don't think they understood what exactly it was they were doing there, or what they were supporting. There are many messages in this video, but I think one that sticks out is that there is a need for change and nothing has changed even with all the tragedies. Change needs to happen soon if we are going to see a real difference in our world.
@Jack
I agree with some of what you said, but I think that there HAS been change. Even though gun violence isn't eliminated, there is a huge amount of awareness, activism, and action taken against it. Schools (our school) are bulletproofing windows, increasing security, and paying more attention to mental health in youth. In order to continue effecting change, it is important to know that this CAN'T just change in a day, and there is action being taken against gun violence.
I was surprised to see Samantha doing poetry, speaking out, and basically doing everything in her power to make sure her voice is heard. Despite her PTSD, she's still willing to speak in front of so many people and lead a national discussion. I was surprised at how no matter what happened when she was on the stage, she wanted to stay and finish her speech and make sure everything she wanted to say was said. It was authentic and so incredibly powerful and it really calls to people to listen when these students who have faced such a horrible experience still do everything they can to get their voices heard.
A moment in the film that stood out for me was when the girl said the only people who should be speaking out on this issue are those who stood at the wrong end of the barrel of an AR-15. Initially, I did not realize she was a first-hand victim. I was surprised by her PTSD symptoms, for example, the vomiting during the rally for gun control. I have never seen purging as a result of PTSD but I believe it is justified given the young girl's circumstance. After watching this short film, I can take away that victims are no longer hiding in the shadows, they are using their stories to fight for protective rights of others, it's brave and bold, and truly what this nation as a whole stands for.
I think what most stood out to me was that the shooting was so disturbing and sickening that it made Samantha throw up while talking about it. It just goes to show that Samantha is so affected by it, rightfully so, that talking about it makes her sick. When I really think about it and I hope that no one falls victim to a school shooting again, there would be no question that I would be upset. School shootings are something we hear about all the time, unfortunately, but can never actually think to be a part of. I am still so disturbed when I see headlines in the news reading there was another mass shooting, and my only hope is that my generation will be the one to make a change.
Many things in this film stood out to me but one big thing was her drive to educate others on this tragedy. Despite, being nervous she knew that in order to make a change, she had to stand up to the lawmakers who couldn't even look her in the eye. Her life is forever changed and there's nothing she can do to necessarily change what she went through. She, and others, will forever be affected by this shooting, probably in worse ways more than good.
what stood out for me the most was that although she suffers from PTSD, she still goes out and talks in front of crowds about her experience. Many teenagers in today's society believe that their voices don't matter, but they do.
I think a moment that really stood out to me was how Samantha came back out on the stage to speak. That takes real courage to be embarrassed on stage (especially on national television) and get back up there to speak. Nothing surprised me but I didn't know she had metal in her face. I think I will take away from this that the march for our lives group is still fighting, still pursuing change.
Will I don't support any of these things happening to people, I am surprised that there are young kids at the march and featured in this video. I think about how much I know and didn't know just a few years ago and I'm shocked that there are kids protesting that probably have no idea what is going on.
When I heard about the Parkland shooting last year, I was shocked, disgusted, and empathized those who went to school that day. Samantha is a survivor of the shooting in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, she was hit by a gunfire and is going through trauma. Something that stood out to me, was when Samantha said that she would get scared if someone beeped a horn, slammed a door, sneezed too loudly, overall, loud noises. Students shouldn’t feel afraid to go to school, because they’re scared of someone going to their school with a weapon, and them possibly getting hurt. Samantha is extremely strong and brave. In my school, we have had too many lockdowns because someone on campus has had a weapon, and that is very disheartening because we shouldn’t have to go to school afraid. When Samantha got shot, the bullet hit a wall first and pieces of metal went in her face, and said that she can feel pieces of metal near her lip. Parents shouldn’t be receiving text messages from their children saying goodbye because they don’t know if that will be the last time they’ll communicate. Change needs to be made.
@Melissa P. I agree with everything you said, it is heartbreaking to hear that students now are going into school scared of being harmed. Samantha is beyond brave for speaking out after all she has been through, fighting against her PTSD to bring awareness on gun violence is eye-opening. No one deserves to go to school scared of being harmed. Hopefully, after all of this, a change will be made.
What stood out to me was the fact that she still goes out and protests despite her panic attacks and all the physical and mental trauma she faces. She fights for the chance she wants to see. The fact that though loud noises she still publicly protests for gun safety. I don't think that I would ever be to do what she does. The way she brings to light the troubles that people in that situation felt and that you can make a difference is inspiring. I feel like you here that all the time that you can make a difference or that your voice matters but it's usually from an adult. So too here it from this teen who experienced a school shooting and is protesting and speaking out to the government to try and stop this from happening is inspiring. I love the fact that she's not letting here PTSD stop her from speaking out.
@Jamaelle Guerrier I believe that she is very brave and admirable as well for standing up even when she got a mental trauma and an injury that will never heal. On top of that, she doesn't look like she will stop until she gets what she justifiably wants; stopping gun violence.
@Jamaelle Guerrier I know I can't say I've been through what you have, but I am behind you 100 percent. By the fact that Samantha has the courage to speak her mind in front, of that many people shows she's willing to change her life course. So that there will be change in our world, I couldn't imagine either being 18 and being a public activist speaker. I'd be too freaked out, but she's not letting her PTSD stop her from becoming a stronger even better person who can make a difference.
@Jamaelle Guerrier
I completely agree it's crazy how adults say we can't always speak out because we won't make a difference, well here's a teenager making a difference for thousands of people.
In this weeks film club video, “After Parkland, Turning Trauma into Change”, it really makes me feel bad and sad for all these people that have to go through these experiences because it just mess them up, whether it’s physically or mentally. But the fact that there are survivors like Samantha Fuentes that are brave enough to go in front of thousands of people to give speeches is really inspiration, it helps people who are to shy or scared to talk about these types of situations to actually try and make changes with events like these, to help make schools safer for kids so that they don’t have to have the thought that someone could possibly shoot up the school. It makes me want to try and help out whether it’s by helping people who have gone through the trauma or actually try and get the fact that we need more strict gun laws.
In the film “After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change” something that stood out to me was how strong and brave she is. She suffers from PTSD which makes her freak out when she hears loud noises but she still speaks out and doesn't let that hold her back. She also said that she was even afraid to go to school. I was shocked when she said she still had pieces of metal in her face from the bullet. I found it interesting how she writes poetry and uses it to speak up. I think she is very inspirational and inspires people to speak up for themselves to help their causes. She is also inspiring because she is helping to fight for gun control to better protect schools so no one has to go through what she went through or worse. Something I took from this film was to speak out to help your cause like she is doing.
@Joslyn Lewis
I agree 100%. She is an inspiring speaker that is taking charge on a topic that she has basically been given by a shooter. She makes speeches and presents them in front of many even though she isn't that comfortable speaking like that she knows she has to do this or gun violence might not come to an end or come to an end much later which is a very bad thing.
This film I sent so different that all the other film clubs . What makes this film club different is that Thisbe one hit s homer very much . This hits home because This happened in my state 3 hours away. Not only that but my school also receive a lot of gun threats. Honestly it’s is just so weird that we have to live in a world like this . Where some teens are afraid to go to school because they may or may not make it home safely. Where teens are trembl to the noise of gunshots at school. Teens are now having to bury there once called classmates or friends. This film club was great to honor the remembrance of the 17 students and factiulty members lost in the tragic crisis.
The film “After Parkland, Turning trama into change” talks about how a Parkland shooting victim, Samantha Fuentes, now lives with her situation. It very moving to see someone who went through so much try and help others. It must be very hard to talk about. I wonder when people will realize that gun control is an issue. 17 peoples lives were taken and that could have been changed with gun control. This not only affected the families of those who were killed but it also affected the students who seen this. I wonder how many people this video had empowered. Samantha must have helped so many people in similar situations. I hope that this never has to happen again. We should not have to go to school in fear of our lives.
While watching the film club, “After Parkland, Turning Trauma into Change” by Neeti Upadhye, Yousur Al-Hlou, and Natalie Reneau, I was very surprised when she threw up on stage and then said she felt great. Because in most cases people would be embarrassed if they threw up on live national television. I figured that she had PTSD because it was such a horrifying and traumatic moment in her life. I believe that it is an amazing thing that she is able to go and protest her beliefs on gun violence. Even though with her PTSD, whenever she hears a loud sound or something scared her she get panic attacks. Samantha Fuentes, the survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, is a very strong individual. I do feel bad for her because I could not imagine having to go through what she went through and having to live with the reoccurring flashbacks of that event.
She has really been through a lot. If that was me I would just run away in fear.
The things that stood out to me in the film is how she was hit by fragments of the bullets which were shattered when it went through a wall. Another thing that stood out to me is how Samantha has physical and mental trauma after the tragic events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. A thing that surprised me is how she used those traumatic events to make a movement to have better gun control. Another thing that stood out to me is how she is still being affected by the tragic events at Parkland by how she would here a loud noise and she will have traumatic memories when she hears it. A question I still have about this topic is how much people are participating to help make better gun control laws. If more and more people participate the more change it will bring. The amount of lives that could of been saved during the stoneman douglas shooting if there were just better gun control laws.
@Brian L.
I agree with this because the more people that protest gun violence the more the laws will be questioned and possibly changed.
The short film "After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Changes" is an enlightening film on how a student was able to cope with an extremely painful experience. Even though she had lost so much in this unfortunate event they still found a way to make a difference and stand up for those who could no longer do so for themselves. It is important that Samantha Fuentes did not mask her emotions and how she felt in that moment, because how the true and raw feeling towards gun violence needs to be publicized so everyone knows the demand for a safer country. Parents need to believe that their children are safe at all times and are put under strict surveillance when they are going to school, if not all of the chaos occurring from the outside will infiltrate our schools and there would continuously be incidents like this. But at the end of the day there still needs to be more people like Fuentes that speak out on their experience with these issues.
In this film “After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change” by Neeti Upadhye, Yousur Al-Hlou and Natalie Reneau what stood out to me was how brave and courageous Samantha Fuentes is and how every day she is able to be so strong even though something bad has happened to her. I got really emotional by this film because nobody should have to go through this. What also stood out to me was how she still has metal pieces of the bullet in her face it’s like a constant reminder of the devastating experience she had to face and I wonder how she is overcoming it. I was also shocked on how she threw up on national T.V. because I didn’t expect he to do that. During this film, I was wondering how the people that still go to that school every day are doing.
@Aashna I agree with everything you said and how Samantha Fuentes is very brave and strong. I also agree on the fact that she has a constant reminder everyday about the shooting because of the piece of metal in her lip and how horrible that is.
After watching the short film “After Parkland, Turning Trauma into Change” by Neeti Upadhye, Yousur Al-Hlou, and Natalie Reneau, there were a lot of things that surprised me. One thing is that everyone knows what happened that day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, but I feel many people do not pay attention to the victims and survivors. I felt very sorry for the survivor, Samantha Fuentes, when the press and reporters would not leave her alone. All she wanted to do was get her story out there, and be heard. She has gone through so much, and is still trying, and fighting for change. Something that stood out to me was how she is now mentally. She experiences PTSD, panic attacks, and is a scared by things as little has a car door closing. I could never imagine how hard it is to live like that. I love how Samantha is making change out of a tragedy.
The biggest similiarity betweeen this film and my own life is the ability to drive 30 minutes into Chicago and experience gun violence as part of an everyday life. It is intersting that something like this occurs everyday in their lives but nothing is done about it but when something like this occurs in a privelaged area media and converstion about it is brought to everyones attention.
"This isn't normal." "This wasn't supposed to happen to me." These are the words of Parkland survivors. Having to go through such a traumatic event at such a young age is unimaginable. The worst thing that our society has done in response all these shootings is normalize it. We talk about shootings like they are a normal occurrence. Hearing about a school shooting on the news doesn't catch everyone's attention like it. Because we hear it more often than anyone ever should. But what qualifies an act of gun violence to make the news? Or to get attention? School shootings spread around the world in the matter of minutes. But what about the constant violence that is happening in say the South Side of Chicago? If 17 people die in a school shooting, or 17 people die in a gang fight, is there a difference? Our society only seems to care when its a "mass event" like school shootings. All of these protests for gun violence need to not only be directed to events like Parkland, but also towards the everyday violence. Pain=Pain. Injustice=Injustice.
We are living in a world where we have to constantly be aware of where we are and where the nearest exits are. We are living in a time where we have to question the validity of a fire alarm. So after watching this video, I am upset. I am upset that 30 minutes from my school there was a shooting in Aurora, IL. But also every day there are innocent lives taken 20 minutes away in the city of Chicago. So 1 year later, I am hurt. I am still hurt. I will always be hurt.
What stood out to me was Samantha's power and confidence for someone who is only 18. She explains how her life completely changed after the shooting, and I believe that really shines through her personality. She's a strong and impactful speaker and I believe it solely comes from her life experience. Her attitude and beliefs made me realize that if you are passionate about something that you can really make a difference, but it requires hard work and confidence.
Watching the video I was getting goosebumps. How could this happen? How could this happen AGAIN? I remember there were shooting threats and my own school and I was scared to go. I feel like there are gun violence related stories on the news everyday, it's a scary how much of the norm it has become. In our world today, no one should be scared of dying just going to school. I couldn't imagine going through something like a school shooting, or any type of shooting. It's been over a year sense the Parkland shooting and gun laws still have not changed on the federal level. It's shocking to me that something of this magnitude keeps happening and happening and even with the huge movements, theres little change.
What part of the film stood out to me? How these survivors took a stand and stood up for what they believe. They did let this trauma stop them from living their life; they took this trauma into a change. It's saddening to hear what the students have to deal with still a year after the shooting. A sneeze or slamming of a door scares her.
I was surprised when I saw how much the survivors are still impacted mentally. While the events of the Parkland shooting are horrific and traumatizing, the survivors have been able to put on a strong face in the efforts of being heard. Because the survivors are relatively young, many people are much less willing to hear what they have to say; arguing that they do not know what they are talking about or that they do not know enough about the world to make significant changes. The survivors know that if they let their mental injuries hinder them, they will never be listened to or taken seriously. For this reason, I was surprised and saddened by how much the survivors are affected mentally. These teens are innocent and young but have been traumatized for life and also forced to keep it together in efforts to make change.
What stood out to me? In all honesty, nothing. School shootings, gun violence, and massacres have been my childhood. I can't remember the last time I was able to make it through a month without hearing something related to gun violence. Watching this video didn't shock me or surprise me. It made me sick. I'm truly disgusted by the fact that these marches are even necessary. Samantha Fuentes was so overcome with emotion that it literally came pouring out of her, and I can't blame her. If you're not sickened by what our country has come to, then you're part of the problem. A boy took five bullets to protect his classmates. This isn't a story, and it's not a movie. How can pro-gun protesters and our Congress listen to this and still not change, but rather argue? Shootings are not normal. Being afraid of walking outside of you're home is not normal. Being afraid that you're going to die in school is not normal. Living life in constant fear and torment is not normal. When are people finally going to understand this? When are we going to finally start caring for one another more than we care about policies? When did safety take the backhand to an object? Gun regulation is not a game, stop playing with our lives.
One thing that stood out to me the most was the beginning of the video when she throws up. Not only did it catch my attention and, more or less, intrigue me, but it showed the true emotions and fears that Samantha Fuentes experiences day to day as a result of the horrific tragedy of the Parkland Shooting. Shootings in general happen far too often and every single one affects others who are connected to the victims. Shootings have happened throughout history and the fact that it's receiving attention perhaps may help lead to a era of change that would better the nation and improve the welfare of the people.
Some things I see is how much of an effect these terrible things have on the kids in schools. The students at parkland will probably forever remember what happened and always have some sort of emotional scar. Even for students in future years will someway be negatively impacted by it. Whenever I think of Parkland I'm also reminded of the terrorist attack in Oslo and Utøya Norway. The attack on innocent kids left them scarred as well impacting kids in future generations.
Living in a town similar to Parkland, I struggle to find the words to explain my empathy for the students of MSD and fear of an event like this happening in my own town. After two shooting threats in the fall of this year, every day of school feels like a new threat. There are truly no words. There is no manual or solution - and there never will be. All that is left is to try and do what we feel is best and maintain normality.
Watching this video was so empowering, raw, and real. Everything about the Parkland shooting hits especially close to home for me, as I have family friends and close friends that go to Stoneman Douglas. Samantha Fuentes said, "There is nothing normal about metal in your face unless you have braces". Samantha was shot in the face during the Stoneman Douglas shooting and has metal lodged in her lip. That is such a meaningful and powerful thing to say, and it's very eye-opening to realize that gun violence, as well as gun violence in schools, is becoming "normal". As a student, it is terrifying coming to school not knowing if my life is in safety or danger. Education is so incredibly important, and I try to not let that get in the way of my fear. When I talk to my friends from Stoneman Douglas, they simply tell me that education is my biggest weapon and that we, as the youthful generation that we are, have to continue to stand up and make the change for a safer future.
One thing that was mentioned in this film that I had not really thought about was the attention that Parkland had received. There are so many shootings going on every day in the south side of Chicago but its a norm. When something is a norm in a community, it usually doesent receive the attention it deserves because norms are difficult to change. It an affluent primarily white community this is unheard of. But as the women said "pain is pain" no matter who you are no matter where you come from, we should shed light on so much more than just school shootings. Chicago seems so far but it is so close. Just because I live in a suburb doesent mean that its okay to shut this out and not think about it. Infact, it is important to think about how close to home this is and what we can better do to expose ourselves to this perspective.
The video that we just viewed in class was overall very powerful. It was eye opening to see the effects that the parkland shooting had on Samantha. SHe explained how she suffers from PTSD and cannot hear any loud sounds any more without getting scared. She is only 18 and she shouldn't have to live that way. Me and all my peers are 17 or 18, and to think of one of us going through that, I have no idea how they would handle that. We also got to view the Chicago video about gun violence. It's crazy to think that all that violence is only 45 mins away from where I live, yet the town I am from is a worlds different from the south side.
I think I could make a connection because my best friend goes to parkland. Whenever a school shooting happens, we think it will never happen to our school. After parkland happened, it hit me that that easily could have been my school. Just like the Northshore, Parkland is a very wealthy nice town. They thought the same thing that we think, it will never happen to our school...until it did. It was very surprising to me to look at this film in a bigger picture. We are scared of a school shooting, well many kids who live in unsafe parents of the world are scared every day! We do not realize that many people fear violence everyday. It is very upsetting that there has to be a shooting in a weather area in order to notice the shootings that happen everyday in less privileged areas.
One thing that really affected me from this video was the passion the Parkland students shared. These kids have been forced to grow up too early which is a devastating fact. However, because of this, these students are so empowered to prevent this from occurring again in the future. Their love for each other, their late classmates and the rest of the world is inspiring. Our generation gives me hope that we may have a safer, happier and brighter future ahead of us. Although we are in darkness now I am confident that we will discover the light.
What will I take away from this? That's an unrealistic question. How can you ask someone who saw a video full of raw emotion to take away only one thing? The anger filled voices of students, would have to experience something so horrific and so life-changing as being in front of the barrel of a gun. There is no one more qualified to speak out than those who were in front of the barrel of a gun. It's unacceptable to put anyone, young or old, in front of the barrel of a gun. It makes you wonder, how much longer are we going to let this go on? How many more times are we going to let heartbroken families mourn over the loss of their children? The mere thought that politics have become so dominant in society that protecting kids is not our top priority is disturbing. It's hard to think that we, as a country, can't agree on gun control. Our founding fathers built this nation equality, unity, and protection. What happened to those core values? How can we possibly continue to fight over new regulations when countless kids are dying from this? Aren't we supposed to be unified? And what happened to protection? Kids like Samantha are scared to go to school, alarmed when doors slam, jump when someone sneezes too loud. That's not what or who we're supposed to be. Is it? You can't ask a single person to choose one message, one emotion, one idea, to take away from this video. Five minutes full of raw, endless emotions can't be summed up in one phrase. But it makes you wonder, how many more?
One thing that stood out to me was the emotion in Samantha's voice. I could hear the pain and suffering in every word that she spoke, which is a difficult task for someone this young. Her emotion was so strong that I almost felt as though she was just talking to me. Another thing that stood out to me was when she said, "People say that participating in change doesn't change anything". Samantha is my age and it was so inspiring to see someone who has accomplished so much, despite the challenges she has faced. Her message alone is so strong, but the way that she conveys it makes it even more impactful.
I thought it was interesting but also sad when Samantha said she wishes she could enjoy D.C. more, but she can't. There are so many great things in the world but a tragedy like this causes so many to feel like they can't enjoy the good in life because of what has happened to them. It's sad that because of an event like this, young people live their lives thinking very negatively and feel like they can't appreciate good things that happen to them.
Something that stood out for me was Samantha's ability to fight through the trauma and come out stronger. Although she has both physical and mental scars, she takes her pain and turns it into motivation for change. She becomes inspired to make a difference which I think is a positive way to deal with trauma.
What stood out to me was the last image of the video was of a sign that said "how many more" which I thought was really powerful and a good choice for the film because it really got the message across. It showed people that others are dying because people aren't doing enough. I think that also tied into when Samantha was said, "we should protect our schools like we protect our other government institutions" which was really something to think about.
It was interesting to see the emotional impact Samantha faced. She was clearly devastated, and an interesting point she made was how physically and mentally she has noticed a change in herself, but she still is having a hard time grasping the impact that the shooting had on her mentally. I think this is an important point of the video because it goes to show that there is so many ways one can respond to such an experience.
Some messages, emotions, and ideas that stood out to me were how much a tragedy like this can impact one's life and personality forever. This girl has completely changed and suffers from PTSD. She doesn't really appreciate good things as much anymore; mostly just points out the negative aspects about everything. This is also scary to think about because all of my classmates and I are in the same situation she was in before the shooting, and that could all change anyday. I agree with Samantha: something has to change so that no one has to go through this again.
@tyler
I agree with you and I think something needs to be done. The pain she is suffering is something nobody should suffer. The more people speak out, the more something could be done. It's partly about what we do to change what's happening.
I think Samantha was very strong willed in becoming an activist after her traumatizing event that happened to her. I think she is a role model to other high school students who are trying to find their voices and speak out about their feelings towards topics that have negatively affected them. Very inspirational, motivating and powerful.
It surprised me to hear the challenges that Samantha and the other students who were involved had to overcome with their PTSD and getting scared from only a sneeze. I can understand how it must be harder for her to appreciate things now after experiencing such a horrible act of violence. I find it very inspirational how she took her pain and used it to express herself through speeches and poems for the world to hear what she has to say.
What really stood out to me was when Samantha went to the capital. She was talking on the bus how it was beautiful out but, she couldn't appreciate the capital as much as she wanted. That sentence stood out to me because Samantha doesn't believe the country is respectable enough after how they responded to the Parkland shooting. After traumatic events like this leaves no one feeling safe in their own country.
@Lily
Hello. I agree with you, police and FBI response before and during the shooting was terrible.
A moment that stood out for me was when she was on stage. Filled with emotion, Samantha seemed very passionate about her experience. Having experience the trauma, Samantha feels inclined to tell the world how she feels and what the world should do. You can see that her speech has a lot of impact on her when she throws down the paper and when she throws up. It's pretty interesting how she explains her changes and adaptations.
I want to share what I think about the moment when she was doing her makeup, and talking about her transformation. Samatha stated, that what happened to her was something she couldn't change. This part really touched me...She's right. She didn't choose to have metal in her face and to have the scars. She didn't choose to emotionally and physically be effected by what has happened. And I think that's one of the important parts to this film. The saddest part is that no one should go through this...the trauma will forever be with her. And it saddens me to know that someone our age has to go through this.
The message that I will take away from this short film is that trauma shouldn't define you. Trauma may become something that changes your life but it doesn't have to change who you are and what you stand for and how you live your life. One emotion or idea I will take away from this is strength, these students have endured so much and have taken a strong stance on this topic.
I found it incredibly inspiring how strong she is. Samantha is suffering from PTSD, and influencing many people's lives. She spoke from the heart and wasn't afraid to show her emotions, the good and the bad, to the rest of the world. Samantha is changing the world, one word at a time.
In the video, the survivor made an amazing point, saying how since she has gone through it, her and other survivors are the only ones who can speak out about it. Government officials have no idea what is going on for this girl and hundreds of other victims of gun violence, using these peoples firsthand knowledge of the effect on peoples lives. I hope that I can be like this girl to have the courage to stand up for what I believe in like she is able to do.
Some moments that stood out was hearing the trauma that still lives with these teens. I can't believe that when someone sneezes or closes a door too loud it scares her. I can't imagine living with this constant fear and ptsd. I also thought Samantha's bravery to stand up in front of everybody and be able to talk about what happened is remarkable. She stood up in front of everyone and basically relieved her experience to make sure it doesn't happen to other students and I thought that took a lot courage for her to help others while she is still affected by this.
@victoria
Honestly, it doesn't surprise me the kids are still living through this trauma, especially her. She came close to death, yet she still pushes through every day.
@victoria Your response is really good. Samantha is very brave. How long would you last with her PTSD and open up to thousands about one of your worst experience?
While watching the film “After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change,” something that surprised me was how brave and strong Samantha is. Even though she’s going through injuries and PTSD that can be easily triggered, she still tries to make change by speaking out to others in large events. She chose to do something that many others can’t possibly do. In addition, something that stood out in the film was her thoughts on the event. I was very angry to see her sadness and struggle, and I completely agree with what she stands for. Nobody should experience the same event as the victims of that shooting, and that there needs to be a change made by many people to prevent it from happening again. In conclusion, a message I’ve gotten from the short film is to speak out and fight for a solution to this problem, and many other problems in society.
In the film, “After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change”, my heart was truly touched by the words of 18 year old Samantha Fuentes. I have to say one of my favorite parts of the video was when she said "I threw up on national television and it feels good." I got really emotional watching this video, this girl was not holding anything back or putting on a fake face. She showed and told us how she felt, she had panic attacks, cried, threw up. She’s helping lead a national conversation about gun control while reeling from mental and physical trauma, this just shows how courageous and strong she is. Fuentes got shot in the face and there are still pieces of metal in it. You don't just wake up the next day and get over that, she is reminded of it everyday, she goes to school and feels unsafe thats where she was shot where her classmates lost their lives. All these lives taken for what reason? Innocent young men and women their lives short lived because someone thought it was okay to take their lives. Samantha and many other students are scarred mentally and physically from this horrific event. This greatly impacted Samantha's life changing her.
@Samara White i completely agree with you. I lived in florida when this mass shooting happened and it really made me think about how quickly something could change. I love how its a year and these kids are still fighting.
“After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change” is a film about a survivor of the Parkland’s school mass shooting, Samantha Fuentes, who fights for stricter gun control laws. I think it is amazing to have so much courage to fight for what she believes while she suffers from the trauma of the shooting. She is able to be strong in front of others even though she is going through a lot herself. She is able to talk in front of others with a strong front showcases how her strength especially when there is metal in her face. I would be extremely insecure about that, but she seems to take it as a part of her identity. I wonder how the whole situation and the aftermath was for her. After such a horrid and traumatic experience, she experience grivesnes as she loses her classmates. It must have been extremely traumatic on hard for someone her age. A full grown adult probably be as strong as she was after experiencing such thing. Samantha Fuentes is a strong person and extremely inspirational.
Living in a society where a shooting is possible at any time can cause a once utopian set world to quickly become dystopian. This is the case in the united states. what seems like a paradise of Walt Disney and food till obesity is a common issue can be quickly turned around when it is realized that The United States has one of the greatest amounts of shootings. Most of these mass shootings are caused by children of Caucasian descent, and their favorite target? Schools. Most of these shootings are overlooked because of white privilege and the lack of gun laws. Most guns can be obtained easily by minors due to the fact that guns are seen as an alienable right. Guns can even be brought at your local Walmart and taken to school the next day. I'm not for the total abolishment of gun rights, but I believe that guns must have certain limits pertaining to age and past records.
Samantha Fuentes’ confidence when she was saying her speech surprised me, especially since she got hit by a bullet in the face and there are still pieces of metal stuck in her face. If that were to happen to me, I would’ve been very insecure of who I am and it could take years for me to become more confidant in who I am. I admire Fuentes very much for that, for embracing it and accepting that it was beyond her control. I was a bit confused when she got to Washington D.C. and said that she “wishes she could appreciate it more, but she can’t.” I assumed it was because she is still a bit scarred from what happened and she can’t fully enjoy Washington D.C. That event that happened to her greatly affected who she is, truly changing her life, and it saddens me that it is still happening across the nation.
In the short film, "After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change" by Neeti Upadhye, Yousur Al-Hlou, and Natalie Reneau, there were multiple things that stood out to me. For instance, it aggravated me how they wouldn't stop leaving the survivor alone. I just feel as though the kids that survived and went through the tragedy should be able to heal and mourn, instead of being bombarded by the news and being forced to relive their experience. It just honestly isn't fair. Also, I find it awful how scared she was after going through what she did. I just couldn't imagine being so scared from everything, even something as little was someone's sneeze. I also understood completely when the survivor had said that she would never wish what she was still goes through every day (the "PTSD") on anybody else. That is just an awful thing to have to live with every day, especially at her age. I also found it fascinating how she was really voicing her opinion a lot, which I think is really good. In conclusion, there were many things that stood out to me in the short film.
@Dylan A.
I agree, it isn't fair that her life was forever changed without her consent. Her life is on a vastly different course than it was before but she is using her experiences to get her message out. Even though it scares her, she does it because she thinks it's important for everyone to know.
In the film: ‘After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change’, it shows an 18-year-old victim of the very tragic Parkland school shooting. The video shows some of the symptoms and mental scars left from the shooting. Samantha Fuentes which was hit from AR-15 gunfire through a wall leaving pieces of metal from the bullet in her face, speaks on the matter of gun control and lost lives. She suffers from PTSD making her afraid of loud noises such as doors slamming, loud horns, or even loud sneezing. She also has panic attacks and cannot stop crying when she thinks about the event. Samantha writes a poem about her love for the dead which I assume is referring to the people lost in the shooting that she wishes were still alive. The message that I received from this film is that shootings are very impacting events that can change people forever and that the change you get from them is not a change you can control.
Everyone knows what happened during the shooting and who did it but no one pays attention to the victims that survived. The girl is struggling with ptsd and no one even knows but she still decided to become an activist. She was going through a hard time yet she still continues to do the thing because she does not want anyone else to go through the same things she went through. She is standing up against a bunch of people who are telling her that she is wrong yet she continues fighting for what she believes in. She continues doing this even though she had a hard time and went through a horrible thing but she still does it. Her experience was horrendous but she is trying to get through it and this is a way it helps her by helping other people through their experiences and warning them about it.
What stood out to me was that she has gone through so much but is already trying to make a change after what happened to her. What surprised me was that even though many things have happened that were just as similar, the government still has not fully helped things like that from happening again. One emotion I got was sadness, I got sadness from this short film because the traumatic things that she and the others went through will always be remembered for the rest of their lives. Another way I experienced sadness was that people like her should not be afraid of going to school or public places and be afraid that they are going to get shot. Another emotion I got from this was being mad, I was mad because there has to be a change so that shootings like that don’t happen again. One question I have would be how long will she be giving motivational speeches out to the U.S. asking for a change in gun laws.
Emotions I felt throughout the Film Club: ‘After Parkland, Turning Trauma Into Change’ include sympathy and hurt. As the speaker tells her story about her experiences and hurt throughout their life I am able to feel the hurt and anger in her voice. She speaks about how the day before everything was normal and everyone went on with their daily schedules. But the next day 17 lives were lost, and 17 others were injured. This lead me to realize that life is a very fragile being. And that its existence may end on the touch of another note. I believe that this issue of gun control isn’t close to over. Many lives have been impacted but there seems to be no such end to the hurting. Occurrences like the one at Douglass High have affected many but for those that were unaffected, it may soon be forgotten. I believe that if a change is going to occur countrywide, there needs to be an event that affects all. That opinions may converge into one, and that pre-existing conflicts can be solved.
I think something that really stood out to me was the way she spoke and expressed her emotions. You can really see the anger and hurt in the way she talks and moves, and you can see that this event has really negatively affected her, despite the other people who believe it has not. Something that also stood out to me was the PTSD she went through, and how the trauma she received reflected in her everyday life. Something that surprised me was the way people treated her, and the ways people thought about her and her cause. It's nice to see that she has so many supporters and people on her side, but it is also upsetting to see that there are still some people who don't believe that it was a big deal, and think that the cause would be for nothing, which is simply not true. I think an emotion I would take away from this film would be empowerment and happiness, because she managed to make a change and make something good out of the tragedy, which not many people are able to do.
What stood out to me in this film was how outspoken she was about this, she is going to these big events to speak on this despite the fact that she has PTSD and i would have to imagine that at these events there are loud noises that could very easily trigger it but she just keeps pushing through it to spread her voice on the matter. She even said that it could be triggered by a loud sneeze so it sounds like any sudden loud sound could trigger it.
@Steven Dunn I Agree with you. Its crazy to think that one event can change the whole course of someones life.
The short film "After Parkland,Turning Trauma Into Change" is about a girl who was a victim who had been shot in this tragedy.She goes on to say that she feels great and better but wants change for kids all around the world.I believe that some people won't understand the pain that she goes through day in and day out.She also feels very traumatized by hit because there are still small pieces of metal still in her face.Because of this she doubts herself asking questions like is this my path.So she tries to find ways to get involved to stop gun violence because she doesn't want nobody to go through what she went through.Her courage and strength speaks volumes as she touched the hearts of thousands around the world.Her ability to still be going through it and to help others is incredible..Her ability to still be going through it and to help others is incredible.She inspired me to get more involved in the community and be a voice for children.
Something that stood out to me is that how this girl is so brave and she survived the shooting but she still has injuries. Another thing that stood out to me is that she is now a poet, or starting her career as a poet but her poems are about the school shooting. Something that surprised me is how she is brave enough to do public speaking about this topic. I feel that this is film is powerful because it shares her experience and it stresses the importance of safety in schools because we don't want something like this to happen again. One question I still have is what did she feel or thought when that gun was to her face?
What stood out to me was how an 18 year old survivor of the Parkland shooting was in Washington on a march for gun violence was brave enough to go on TV to let their voice be heard because people who go through tragedy are usually too scared and try to avoid talking about the certain subject. After watching this film you can get the feeling of sadness for the victims of the shooting and an idea you can get is to help fight for gun control to protect schools from being another victim of a school shooting. A message that someone can take from this film is that you have a voice and you should let the whole world hear that voice to help you fight that problem that is effecting this modern society and hope to help prevent this problem from happening again in the future and possibly forever.
@Francisco Aguilar I agree with your point. I once went to a presentation where the speaker was talking about how people do not have the voice to speak for themselves. Those people should have rights to fight this problem and to prevent it in the future. People's voices need to be heard.
One of the survivors was hit in the face when the gun was shot in through the wall and hit her, how she was able to survive that was amazing. Samantha wanted to have no one be in the same situation as she had to go through. Samantha has ptsd which made her be afraid of wanting to go to school cause anything load could trigger her. I will take away the fact at how strong she is in being able to overcome what happened a year ago and how she was able to do a speech now and talk about it. I think she is very strong and brave for being able to go on stage (when she threw up) and also to talk to people about how people shouldn't have guns and why it's so dangerous to carry them.
@Calee Weber
Could not have said it better. The resiliency that she demonstated by continuing her speach is truly remarkable.
I loved in the beginning, how she was so strong and defiant and she understood exactly what she was fighting for. It’s so sad to hear about all of the lives this shooting impacted. I’m glad that they chose this girl to be the speaker for this video because she was very relatable. From when she threw up on stage and had a panic attack, even though it's horrible what happened, it’s good to know that she isn’t overlooking what happened but instead, speaking up about it through all of her panic attacks. I hate that this happened to her. She seems very emotional and sad, especially when she was reading her poem. She is a completely different person but I’m glad that she was of course, upset by it, but also made something out of it to help others. I wonder where she is now. I wonder if she is still speaking out about gun safety, in the hopes that the percentage of shootings will decrease.