Within the halls of the high school, students live their everyday lives, seemingly without a second thought as to how safe they may be. Consequently, recent tragedies in the nation have struck a nerve with certain students and make them fear being discriminated against. Some students feel as though they are very safe in school and have room to be themselves, and others not so much. Junior Evan Monroe, an African American at the high school, does not feel discriminated against in his personal interactions. For Monroe, his safety is not questioned during the school day.

“I feel like any real racial tension in this school has more to do with personal opinions, rather than an inability to socialize. Like, it’s not very fair to change someone’s opinion,” said Monroe.

For Monroe, his safety is not questioned during the school day. He does not feel as though any action needs to be taken to make a safer environment. He feels that he has never been rejected by anyone at this school due to his race on the friendship level.

At the high school, students are often asked whether or not they feel safe, mainly through surveys such as the climate survey from November. Freshmen Cecilia Brown feels that in some ways people at this school are not accepted but at times, they are. Within her first year, Brown has felt that she is mostly treated the same as any other grade.

“If you’re apart of a group like marching band, you feel like you’re just as important as everyone else, but in other settings not so much,” said Brown.

Brown thinks that bullying, while it happens every day, does not appear to be to such an extent that it is a big problem. She believes that students may even feel unsafe despite whether or not they are bullied.

“Even if you’re not bullied, you still don’t feel very confident when not everyone else is like you,” said Brown.

Students may be concerned with what precautionary measures need to be taken make sure students feel safe. Assistant Principal Mark Cook thinks that the way to make students feel safe is by being there for the students every day.

“I think (to help students be safe is) being visible. Being visible whether it’s the teachers or security,” said Cook.

However, the high school recognizes the recent tragedies and has worked to make sure students feel safe in the learning environment.When a student does not feel safe, Cook will have the problem be investigated and acted upon as quickly as possible.

Junior Lydia Slaubaugh feels that she is safe at this school, never really being discriminated against. Being pansexual, Slaubaugh has not been discriminated against based on her personal interactions.

“It depends on who it is. Some people just don’t care and there’s others that it could really bug them just because it’s such a large, diverse population that you’re bound to get some that don’t approve,” said Slaubaugh.

Slaubaugh does not pay attention to any hate directed towards her in any way. She feels that people should just be accepted despite sexuality as it does not affect others. About twenty eight percent of homosexual high school students in the nation are bullied. This causes fear among gay students when they decide to come out. Slaubaugh was fortunate enough to overcome this fear.

“I’m gonna be honest, I don’t care what other people think of me, so it [coming out] wasn’t that big of a deal for me,” said Slaubaugh.

The school works to make sure every student is safe during school through security and being present in the students’ everyday lives.