For me the beginning of the school year was a time for joy. New things to learn, new classmates, new books to read, white lined sheet of papers to fill with words. Autumn was around the corner. The cool brisk air filled the mornings.
I never lost that feeling. I will admit I hate the winter months and the dark dreariness that seeps in but I always looked forward to first day of school.
As a news photographer at a local paper it was a huge event. So were fall sports, especially football.
On a Friday night or Saturday morning crowds filled stands, cheerleaders performed intricate stunts and win or lose, all cheered for the players of both teams.
This Friday under the lights, a shooting took place at Academy Park High School in Sharon Hill taking the life of a child and injuring others. A drive-by shooting!
There are no words to express the sadness I feel for the parents who have lost their beautiful daughter. No words can express the sadness I feel for the students, the players, the coaches, the teachers and the parents for they have lost the joy of a new school year shattered by bullets.
As school districts grasp with mask or unmask to keep our children safe from a virus, the real question is how do we keep our children safe from gun violence, a form of terrorism that assaults our psyches for we never know when it will strike.
Like everyone, I have no answers. I can only offer prayers for the family and that the Academy Park students and faculty will find peace as the school year goes on.
