Today's youth is standing up to make change

The students of Whitefish High School recently participated in both a commemorative ceremony of those lost in the most recent school shooting as well as a walkout, in which students left school in protest of the dated gun laws that seem to have little change.

Both were inspiring in their own ways. One showed the 17 lives that were lost during a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, last month, by speaking their names and some small piece of their character was shared with us. The other demonstrated something that is happening all across the nation.

The school chose to hold the ceremony in order to celebrate the lives of those lost without directly supporting students walking out of school.

Students also chose to walk out of the school in protest of gun violence, gun regulation, and other personal reasons. Those who walked out also spoke the names of those lost and held a minute of silence for each of the 17 people so senselessly murdered. Both demonstrations were deeply moving and undeniably necessary.

Students are choosing to remember their peers around the nation, but they are also choosing to voice their opinions about gun laws that seem to be impossible to change. It is inspiring to see this happening all over the United States and it is impressive that in somewhere as small as Whitefish students are brave enough to voice their opinions, thoughtful enough to take on others pain, and willing enough to speak for change. While change is happening all around us in so many ways, laws need to change too.

In a world where students are getting out of their homes, through fear and violence to protest what they believe, there is little response. Young people are standing up of their own accord and letting their voices be heard regardless of what those in charge want. With all the youth standing up to make change, hopefully the rest of the world will follow.

Annie Howeth is a senior at Whitefish High School.