This past week, our campus experienced a lockdown followed by a shelter-in-place order due to a reported assault in the vicinity. This situation has sparked a serious concern for me, particularly regarding my classmates’ reactions to such a critical incident.

While lockdowns are not a new concept in American schools, the immediate response from many students was disheartening. Instead of feeling alarmed, the predominant response seemed to be annoyance, with comments like, “Oh, not this again,” echoing in the halls. This reaction highlights a troubling trend: the normalization of school threats. These potentially dangerous situations seem to have become yet another routine disruption to our education rather than a serious call for caution. 

I am genuinely grateful for our administration’s commitment to our students’ safety; they take every report seriously and implement procedures to protect us. However, the fact that incidents like this create a more annoyed than anxious response among students is alarming. It raises critical questions about our collective mindset toward safety and preparedness. We all need to be part of the solution in an environment where threats can occur and students’ safety is on the line. 

During the recent lockdown, I observed my peers listening to music, playing mobile games, and casually chatting during a shelter-in-place. This behavior, which I found disconcerting, undermines the seriousness of the situation and poses a significant safety risk. 

As a friend, daughter, sister, and peer, I want to ask my fellow classmates to please take every shelter-in-place and lockdown seriously. Please stay quiet, stay put, and stay safe. Our lives are on the line.