Subject: I'm 17.

I am 17. I'm just like any other teenager. I get up every morning go to
school, I come home every night. nothing special, nothing extravagant.
I'm no
better than anyone else, I'm no less than anyone else. i have the same
hopes,
the same fears, the same questions, and the same daydreams. there are
people
like me in every state, in every city, in every school, and in every
class
room. this morning 15 students, just like me, got up, got dressed, and
went
to school. some, like me, were running late, some early, some worried
about
that test they had first period, some were daydreaming about the cute
boy
that had the locker right next to theirs, some were thinking about the
friend
they had gotten in a fight with the night before, some were giggling
with
each other about the substitute with the big bright red wig. but not
one of
these students, just like me, was worried about walking into that
school,the
school they walk into every other Monday through Friday for nine months
out
of the year, and being shot at. but there is a difference between these
15
students and me, i came home after school, i will be able to go on that
date
Friday, and pass that test, i will be able to graduate, and i am still
alive.
i asked God, "why? why do bad things happen?" and as much as i wanted a straight forward answer from Him, i didn't get one. and I know I won't.
but I
did get something else. I got a feeling deep down in my heart that
says,
"This shouldn't happen. and I can do something about it." I have the
ability
to change the world. God said that with faith, i can move mountains.
and i
have some mountains to move. i have no idea how to solve this problem.
i have
no idea what has gone wrong in the heads of so many of my peers, and i
don't
know how to stop it. but i am sure going to try. today i was saddened
by what
happened. i was scared, and i was confused. but most of all, i was
ashamed. i
am ashamed. i am ashamed of my generation, of my classmates, of my
friends,
and of myself. these shootings were done by kids my own age. kids that
you
pass on the street, kids with friends, and kids with families. the kids
that
died are the same. these kids that were killed are innocent victims.
they did
not deserve to die and nothing can ever come close to making what
happened
justifiable. those that ignore this, as i have, for the past however
many
years, are those that i am ashamed of. what has to happen? does it have
to
happen to your family, to your kids, to your friends to your life to
open
your eyes? are you going to wait still? because i refuse. i refuse to
watch
this happen anymore. i refuse to be a victim. i don't know how i am
supposed
to change the world, but i will. i am not going to stand by any longer
and
watch my generation flush society down the toilet. the streets aren't
safe,
parks aren't safe, homes aren't safe, and now schools aren't safe.
there is
something wrong with this picture. and i feel sorry for those that
don't see
it. but most of all I pity those that do but choose to ignore it. I am
making
a vow to myself to stand up against it, to make a difference, and I
pray I am
not alone.

My name is Jayson Martin
from Littleton, Colorado, I would like for anyone who reads this to please write their
name down. I would like to send prayers out to my friends who were in Columbine H. S. I would like
everyone to please say a prayer for the safety of everyone who was involved in this terrible tragedy.
It is something that has hurt me today as well as my friends, I'm grateful for my safety and their safety. Please Forward this to as many people as you can, let us all come together and pray that this tragedy ends soon.
Thank you.

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1. Jayson L. Martin
Littleton, Colorado

2.(Your Name)(City)