hello my name is Cole wesselman I’m a freshman here at Iowa State University
freshman here at Iowa State University
freshman here at Iowa State University from Centennial Colorado most of my high
from Centennial Colorado most of my high
from Centennial Colorado most of my high school experience was probably just like
school experience was probably just like
school experience was probably just like any of yours I said hi to my friends in
any of yours I said hi to my friends in
any of yours I said hi to my friends in the hallway and I did my homework and we
the hallway and I did my homework and we
the hallway and I did my homework and we really begged for those snow days like
really begged for those snow days like
really begged for those snow days like probably any of you did why couldn’t we
probably any of you did why couldn’t we
probably any of you did why couldn’t we just have a snow day I’m a little bitter
just have a snow day I’m a little bitter
just have a snow day I’m a little bitter about it now cuz my sister had to snow
about it now cuz my sister had to snow
about it now cuz my sister had to snow days in a row in january and i early had
days in a row in january and i early had
days in a row in january and i early had won all of high school now my friends
won all of high school now my friends
won all of high school now my friends and I in high school really enjoyed
and I in high school really enjoyed
and I in high school really enjoyed spending time on the outside even in the
spending time on the outside even in the
spending time on the outside even in the winter time skiing hiking anything
winter time skiing hiking anything
winter time skiing hiking anything outside really intrigued us Colorado has
outside really intrigued us Colorado has
outside really intrigued us Colorado has a lot of natural beauty that we really
a lot of natural beauty that we really
a lot of natural beauty that we really feel called to appreciate so luckily
feel called to appreciate so luckily
feel called to appreciate so luckily this one day in December we had a group
this one day in December we had a group
this one day in December we had a group of us go up to the mountains this is red
of us go up to the mountains this is red
of us go up to the mountains this is red rocks amphitheatre a pretty popular spot
rocks amphitheatre a pretty popular spot
rocks amphitheatre a pretty popular spot for concerts in the Denver area there’s
for concerts in the Denver area there’s
for concerts in the Denver area there’s Denver over on the left and some
Denver over on the left and some
Denver over on the left and some reservoirs over on the right my friends
reservoirs over on the right my friends
reservoirs over on the right my friends here in the stands although no one
here in the stands although no one
here in the stands although no one really said it out loud I knew that that
really said it out loud I knew that that
really said it out loud I knew that that group of friends cared so much about
group of friends cared so much about
group of friends cared so much about each other when someone just caught up
each other when someone just caught up
each other when someone just caught up in the view it’s beautiful isn’t it
in the view it’s beautiful isn’t it
in the view it’s beautiful isn’t it peach clouds highlighting the bright
peach clouds highlighting the bright
peach clouds highlighting the bright orange sunset it’s magnificent
orange sunset it’s magnificent
orange sunset it’s magnificent speechless
it was actually so nice that I actually
it was actually so nice that I actually painted my own picture a year later now
painted my own picture a year later now
painted my own picture a year later now tonight I’m not really here to talk
tonight I’m not really here to talk
tonight I’m not really here to talk about or show you pretty pictures or
about or show you pretty pictures or
about or show you pretty pictures or talk about the reminiscing on high
talk about the reminiscing on high
talk about the reminiscing on high school now the reason I painted this
school now the reason I painted this
school now the reason I painted this picture was because the date of the
picture was because the date of the
picture was because the date of the picture met so much more to me than the
picture met so much more to me than the
picture met so much more to me than the picture itself that picture earlier was
picture itself that picture earlier was
picture itself that picture earlier was taken on December 13 2014 a group of my
taken on December 13 2014 a group of my
taken on December 13 2014 a group of my friends and I went up to the mountains
friends and I went up to the mountains
friends and I went up to the mountains on a saturday morning in December not
on a saturday morning in December not
on a saturday morning in December not just to appreciate the sunrise but to
just to appreciate the sunrise but to
just to appreciate the sunrise but to remember what happened to us just one
remember what happened to us just one
remember what happened to us just one year earlier at our high school one of
year earlier at our high school one of
year earlier at our high school one of our classmates came to our school with a
our classmates came to our school with a
our classmates came to our school with a shotgun hit Claire Davis and took his
shotgun hit Claire Davis and took his
shotgun hit Claire Davis and took his life in the library in just 80 seconds
life in the library in just 80 seconds
life in the library in just 80 seconds my high school made it the front page of
my high school made it the front page of
my high school made it the front page of CNN Fox News and every major news
CNN Fox News and every major news
CNN Fox News and every major news network in America on Friday December 13
network in America on Friday December 13
network in America on Friday December 13 2013 i I’m from A Wrap o high school
2013 i I’m from A Wrap o high school
2013 i I’m from A Wrap o high school home of the Rapa warriors now I started
home of the Rapa warriors now I started
home of the Rapa warriors now I started out like any normal day in December
out like any normal day in December
out like any normal day in December everybody’s getting ready for finals and
everybody’s getting ready for finals and
everybody’s getting ready for finals and stressing out of other project but I got
stressing out of other project but I got
stressing out of other project but I got dropped off that morning back back in
dropped off that morning back back in
dropped off that morning back back in hand but no pain meds see I had a major
hand but no pain meds see I had a major
hand but no pain meds see I had a major concussion that I got in November that
concussion that I got in November that
concussion that I got in November that lasted for more than three and a half
lasted for more than three and a half
lasted for more than three and a half months I couldn’t get through a full day
months I couldn’t get through a full day
months I couldn’t get through a full day of school without having some pain meds
of school without having some pain meds
of school without having some pain meds so in first hour when I started getting
so in first hour when I started getting
so in first hour when I started getting headaches I called my mom and said can
headaches I called my mom and said can
headaches I called my mom and said can you bring me some she brought me twice
you bring me some she brought me twice
you bring me some she brought me twice the amount that i normally got i think
the amount that i normally got i think
the amount that i normally got i think the only way that I got through that day
the only way that I got through that day
the only way that I got through that day was because I had that double dose now
was because I had that double dose now
was because I had that double dose now it’s about twelve-thirty I’m in my
it’s about twelve-thirty I’m in my
it’s about twelve-thirty I’m in my English class we got about two hours
English class we got about two hours
English class we got about two hours left of school everybody’s getting ready
left of school everybody’s getting ready
left of school everybody’s getting ready for their projects to be done is getting
for their projects to be done is getting
for their projects to be done is getting kind of loud so my brains really really
kind of loud so my brains really really
kind of loud so my brains really really not having it
not having it
not having it so start packing up my things and start
so start packing up my things and start
so start packing up my things and start heading over to the liar I start packing
heading over to the liar I start packing
heading over to the liar I start packing up my things getting ready to go to the
up my things getting ready to go to the
up my things getting ready to go to the library we hear a loud bang in the
library we hear a loud bang in the
library we hear a loud bang in the hallway didn’t think much of it thought
hallway didn’t think much of it thought
hallway didn’t think much of it thought it was just a someone getting upset
it was just a someone getting upset
it was just a someone getting upset slamming a locker then we heard two more
slamming a locker then we heard two more
slamming a locker then we heard two more this wasn’t a locker slam anymore we all
this wasn’t a locker slam anymore we all
this wasn’t a locker slam anymore we all ran to the corner shut off the lights
ran to the corner shut off the lights
ran to the corner shut off the lights and lock the door terror and fear
and lock the door terror and fear
and lock the door terror and fear flooded our faces for more than an hour
flooded our faces for more than an hour
flooded our faces for more than an hour in silence we all prayed this be our
in silence we all prayed this be our
in silence we all prayed this be our family and friends again quiet and in
family and friends again quiet and in
family and friends again quiet and in the dark after about an hour we heard
the dark after about an hour we heard
the dark after about an hour we heard this yell really loud rapping on the
this yell really loud rapping on the
this yell really loud rapping on the door was a SWAT team as they yelled at
door was a SWAT team as they yelled at
door was a SWAT team as they yelled at the other classrooms they told us to put
the other classrooms they told us to put
the other classrooms they told us to put our hands in the air and excess corded
our hands in the air and excess corded
our hands in the air and excess corded us down the hallway to the door and out
us down the hallway to the door and out
us down the hallway to the door and out to the track it’ll happen so fast that
to the track it’ll happen so fast that
to the track it’ll happen so fast that nobody really had time to react we were
nobody really had time to react we were
nobody really had time to react we were getting patted down like in the airports
getting patted down like in the airports
getting patted down like in the airports but the sign was on our own high school
but the sign was on our own high school
but the sign was on our own high school track and this is me on CNN same t-shirt
track and this is me on CNN same t-shirt
track and this is me on CNN same t-shirt and everything
we were all really confused and didn’t
we were all really confused and didn’t know what to do I couldn’t find any of
know what to do I couldn’t find any of
know what to do I couldn’t find any of my friends out on the track and honestly
my friends out on the track and honestly
my friends out on the track and honestly didn’t know where to go I was getting
didn’t know where to go I was getting
didn’t know where to go I was getting phone calls from people that I honestly
phone calls from people that I honestly
phone calls from people that I honestly didn’t know cared that much about me to
didn’t know cared that much about me to
didn’t know cared that much about me to even know this was happening it took us
even know this was happening it took us
even know this was happening it took us nearly three hours to get bussed for
nearly three hours to get bussed for
nearly three hours to get bussed for Morocco to a church just a quarter mile
Morocco to a church just a quarter mile
Morocco to a church just a quarter mile away my house is just around around the
away my house is just around around the
away my house is just around around the corner from Robbo high school but it
corner from Robbo high school but it
corner from Robbo high school but it felt like it was on a different planet
parents started lining up as soon as
parents started lining up as soon as they found the locate the drop-off
they found the locate the drop-off
they found the locate the drop-off location for their kids hours passed and
location for their kids hours passed and
location for their kids hours passed and I couldn’t imagine the emotion that they
I couldn’t imagine the emotion that they
I couldn’t imagine the emotion that they felt trying to see their babies again
those reunions were filled with hugs
those reunions were filled with hugs incredible joy and tears a relief by the
incredible joy and tears a relief by the
incredible joy and tears a relief by the time I got home sat down on my couch I
time I got home sat down on my couch I
time I got home sat down on my couch I honestly couldn’t tell you what I
honestly couldn’t tell you what I
honestly couldn’t tell you what I imagine what would happen to my high
imagine what would happen to my high
imagine what would happen to my high school or to my community I just wanted
school or to my community I just wanted
school or to my community I just wanted to rest to relax to blind myself to my
to rest to relax to blind myself to my
to rest to relax to blind myself to my new reality my new I was still concussed
new reality my new I was still concussed
new reality my new I was still concussed and I just wanted to sleep but for the
and I just wanted to sleep but for the
and I just wanted to sleep but for the world they made references to Columbine
world they made references to Columbine
world they made references to Columbine and more importantly that that was the
and more importantly that that was the
and more importantly that that was the eve of the anniversary of the Sandy Hook
eve of the anniversary of the Sandy Hook
eve of the anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting just a year earlier our little
shooting just a year earlier our little
shooting just a year earlier our little community in Centennial Colorado was
community in Centennial Colorado was
community in Centennial Colorado was just as chaotic as it sounded on
just as chaotic as it sounded on
just as chaotic as it sounded on television see it was really I was
television see it was really I was
television see it was really I was blinded I just didn’t know what was
blinded I just didn’t know what was
blinded I just didn’t know what was going on and those cuts I didn’t realize
going on and those cuts I didn’t realize
going on and those cuts I didn’t realize how deep those cuts were until long
how deep those cuts were until long
how deep those cuts were until long after the fact i felt i was just numb to
after the fact i felt i was just numb to
after the fact i felt i was just numb to my surroundings
see when you have a concussion your head
see when you have a concussion your head feels like a balloon just ready to
feels like a balloon just ready to
feels like a balloon just ready to explode the fluorescent lights up and
explode the fluorescent lights up and
explode the fluorescent lights up and down the hallways just made me feel like
down the hallways just made me feel like
down the hallways just made me feel like I was spinning paired with her thoughts
I was spinning paired with her thoughts
I was spinning paired with her thoughts that ran through my mind the what-ifs
that ran through my mind the what-ifs
that ran through my mind the what-ifs and the code of bins just made me sick
and the code of bins just made me sick
and the code of bins just made me sick to my stomach honestly I couldn’t
to my stomach honestly I couldn’t
to my stomach honestly I couldn’t describe to you some of the feelings I
describe to you some of the feelings I
describe to you some of the feelings I had long after I’ve recovered from my
had long after I’ve recovered from my
had long after I’ve recovered from my concussion after i graduated from
concussion after i graduated from
concussion after i graduated from arapahoe and may have 2015 I finally
arapahoe and may have 2015 I finally
arapahoe and may have 2015 I finally realize the magnitude of the event that
realize the magnitude of the event that
realize the magnitude of the event that changed so many in my high school at
changed so many in my high school at
changed so many in my high school at summer day over two years have gone by
summer day over two years have gone by
summer day over two years have gone by since people thought that our world
since people thought that our world
since people thought that our world slipped upside down I can’t even search
slipped upside down I can’t even search
slipped upside down I can’t even search for my high school online without that
for my high school online without that
for my high school online without that search bar coming up with the shooting I
think I get more emotional a more
think I get more emotional a more heartbroken about it now than I ever did
heartbroken about it now than I ever did
heartbroken about it now than I ever did before because I see the same news
before because I see the same news
before because I see the same news stories pop up across America and I
stories pop up across America and I
stories pop up across America and I immediately empathize with them just
immediately empathize with them just
immediately empathize with them just that fear of death the fear of
that fear of death the fear of
that fear of death the fear of uncertainty not knowing where the next
uncertainty not knowing where the next
uncertainty not knowing where the next step would lead us because we just
step would lead us because we just
step would lead us because we just struggled to answer the questions of why
struggled to answer the questions of why
struggled to answer the questions of why and how could this happen to us our
and how could this happen to us our
and how could this happen to us our school change that we really didn’t know
school change that we really didn’t know
school change that we really didn’t know where we were headed I see pictures like
where we were headed I see pictures like
where we were headed I see pictures like this these are two of my friends from
this these are two of my friends from
this these are two of my friends from her up oh I school standing outside of
her up oh I school standing outside of
her up oh I school standing outside of berrendo middle school in New Mexico
berrendo middle school in New Mexico
berrendo middle school in New Mexico less than a month later in January after
less than a month later in January after
less than a month later in January after they had a shooting at their school our
they had a shooting at their school our
they had a shooting at their school our school didn’t react out of grief or
school didn’t react out of grief or
school didn’t react out of grief or anger but out of compassion
the community I was rocked once again by
the community I was rocked once again by a shooting rose to the challenge and
a shooting rose to the challenge and
a shooting rose to the challenge and supported those who needed it Project
supported those who needed it Project
supported those who needed it Project Linus made enough blankets to fulfill
Linus made enough blankets to fulfill
Linus made enough blankets to fulfill all 2,200 students at our high school
all 2,200 students at our high school
all 2,200 students at our high school our community wanted to spread love and
our community wanted to spread love and
our community wanted to spread love and kindness to those who needed it most the
kindness to those who needed it most the
kindness to those who needed it most the warrior family spread across the country
warrior family spread across the country
warrior family spread across the country the tragedy became our battle cry the
the tragedy became our battle cry the
the tragedy became our battle cry the donations to the memorial fund for
donations to the memorial fund for
donations to the memorial fund for Claire Davis or from people who realize
Claire Davis or from people who realize
Claire Davis or from people who realize that healing is a group effort a
that healing is a group effort a
that healing is a group effort a community effort if our school just SAT
community effort if our school just SAT
community effort if our school just SAT back accepted defeat I wouldn’t be
back accepted defeat I wouldn’t be
back accepted defeat I wouldn’t be standing where I am today it was a
standing where I am today it was a
standing where I am today it was a commitment from the friends and the
commitment from the friends and the
commitment from the friends and the families in our city to lead lives of
families in our city to lead lives of
families in our city to lead lives of love and kindness the stretch beyond the
love and kindness the stretch beyond the
love and kindness the stretch beyond the concrete walls of a school in Colorado
concrete walls of a school in Colorado
concrete walls of a school in Colorado smiles got wider every day that hugs got
smiles got wider every day that hugs got
smiles got wider every day that hugs got tighter every day we challenged what it
tighter every day we challenged what it
tighter every day we challenged what it meant to be a school shooting on the
meant to be a school shooting on the
meant to be a school shooting on the news we didn’t go out there and accept a
news we didn’t go out there and accept a
news we didn’t go out there and accept a feat we overcame the adversity being
feat we overcame the adversity being
feat we overcame the adversity being afraid not knowing where we were going
afraid not knowing where we were going
afraid not knowing where we were going next we found a way to redefine recovery
so I challenge you not to stay afraid
so I challenge you not to stay afraid not to stay silent when your worst fears
not to stay silent when your worst fears
not to stay silent when your worst fears arrive I challenge you to not stay
arrive I challenge you to not stay
arrive I challenge you to not stay afraid there’s a community of people out
afraid there’s a community of people out
afraid there’s a community of people out there who will love and support you all
there who will love and support you all
there who will love and support you all the way through your weakest moments
there are people who support you and
there are people who support you and celebrate with you in your strongest
celebrate with you in your strongest
celebrate with you in your strongest hours so don’t hesitate to jump into
hours so don’t hesitate to jump into
hours so don’t hesitate to jump into compassion i encourage you to find what
compassion i encourage you to find what
compassion i encourage you to find what we did a typo high school and find a way
we did a typo high school and find a way
we did a typo high school and find a way to incorporate it into your life I’ve
to incorporate it into your life I’ve
to incorporate it into your life I’ve challenge you to find a way to live
challenge you to find a way to live
challenge you to find a way to live deliberately for love and kindness the
deliberately for love and kindness the
deliberately for love and kindness the deliberate acts of love and kindness
deliberate acts of love and kindness
deliberate acts of love and kindness campaign was a campaign put on by my
campaign was a campaign put on by my
campaign was a campaign put on by my senior class to not only support
senior class to not only support
senior class to not only support students within our own school but in
students within our own school but in
students within our own school but in the community around us when we choose
the community around us when we choose
the community around us when we choose to live a life for love and kindness
to live a life for love and kindness
to live a life for love and kindness there won’t be another random act of
there won’t be another random act of
there won’t be another random act of kindness again so choose
I challenge you to take the past that a
I challenge you to take the past that a rapid did take a pass of empathy of
rapid did take a pass of empathy of
rapid did take a pass of empathy of compassion kind of love I encourage you
compassion kind of love I encourage you
compassion kind of love I encourage you all to be warrior strong thank you
”
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