April 2018

Perhaps the largest gathering for change was
the March For Our Lives event, on March 24,
in Washington D.C. There, people from all
over the country joined our city in demanding
immediate action. Celebrities like Oprah
Winfrey and George and Amal Clooney
donated money to support the march, which
is a testament to the fact that the issues
we faced in Parkland are not exclusive to a
particular age group, race, or social class.
Strength in times of tragedy
After a horrific incident of this magnitude,
people often don’t know what to say. And
we can’t blame them. Even adults, whom we
usually turn to for answers, are struggling just
as much as we are.
However, we have found that we can draw
strength in the words of songs. Music has
brought us comfort at a time when our pain
is unimaginable. Even science has proven the
impact that music has on people who are
working through pain and trauma. Studies from
Harvard University have proven that music can
reduce pain, symptoms of depression, and
even improve one’s quality of sleep.
What the future holds for
Parkland
imbued with a sense of
resolve, we will use this
experience as a springboard
for change. We will be
positive, we will be passionate,
and we will be the proud
leaders of the change we so
desperately need. Although living
in a new reality, we will carry on.
After all, as Marjory Stoneman
Douglas herself said, “There is
always the need to carry on.” P
Below is a list, contributed to by teens
from Parkland and Coral Springs, of
songs we listen to and try to live by when
times are tough.
- “Keep Your Head Up” - Andy Grammer
- “You Raise Me Up” - Josh Groban
- “Chasing Cars” - Snow Patrol
- “Neverland” - Finding Neverland Soundtrack
- “Stronger” - Finding Neverland Soundtrack
- “River Flows in You” - Yiruma
- “See You Again” - Charlie Puth
- “See You Again” - Carrie Underwood
- “Temporary Home” - Carrie Underwood
We have soaked our pillows with tears, and
those tears will keep flowing for a very, very
- “Fight Song” - Rachel Platten
long time. We know that things will never
- “Happy” - Pharrell
be the same; we lost seventeen precious
- “Brave” - Sara Bareilles
individuals on February 14, and those
losses will be felt for the rest of our lives.
- “Titanium” - David Guetta ft. Sia
But as they say, we will slowly establish a
- “A Spoonful of Sugar” - Mary Poppins
“new normal.” We will move forward, not
only because we have to, but because
- “How to Save a Life” - The Fray
we know that that’s what those who
- “Seize the Day“ - Newsies Soundtrack
passed away would have wanted us
- “The Climb” - Miley Cyrus
to do.
- “Defying Gravity” - Idina Menzel (Wicked Soundtrack)
“Going forward, I think we are going
to heal and learn what our ‘new
- “May We All” - Florida Georgia Line ft. Tim McGraw
normal’ is, and become stronger
- “Yesterday” - The Beatles
than ever before,” said Tori R.,
- “We Can Work it Out” - The Beatles
a sophomore at Douglas. “But
on the other hand, we will
- “Imagine” - Elton John
never forget what happened
- Fix You - Coldplay
or the people that we lost.
Parkland will continue
- “Takin’ It to the Streets” - Doobie Brothers
to come together as a
- “Gone, Gone, Gone” - Phillip Phillips
community and fight for
- “How Far I’ll Go” - Auli’i Cravalho (Moana Soundtrack)
what we believe in.”
- “I Won’t Let Go” - Rascal Flatts
Our fight will
undoubtedly be long
- “We Shall Overcome” - Pete Seeger
and hard. But
the PARKLANDER 17