Paige Oleff (DHS Class of 2014)

 Although I am not technically a Highland Park resident, I still consider HP to be my home. I grew up in Deerfield but my father and his brothers all attended and graduated HPHS. My grandparents still live in Highland Park. 

I used to love listening to the stories about my dad and his brothers as teens in the 80's running around and living carefree in their town of Highland Park. Even the oral surgeon who performed my wisdom teeth surgery last August in Highland Park (located right off Central where the horrific massacre took place) knew my dad and his brothers and described this era as "The Charlie Brown days." Meaning, this town didn't have a care in the world. Friends, Family and neighbors felt SAFE. My grandparents were not worried about their teenagers running around Highland Park with their friends because they didn't have to. No one could have ever imagined that this place we call home would become "ground zero" for another mass shooting. 

I always imagined one day, that I would raise my family here. This is a town with so much history, so much love, and so we thought... so much safety. The harsh reality is that no town is safe anymore. I am sick and tired of hearing about mass shootings all over the United States. I know I speak for a lot of us when I say that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. 

I have always wanted to be a mother. It is something that I have never thought twice about. Until now. After seeing the heartbreaking stories of mothers and fathers clutching their children and running for their life, I am now coming to the painful realization that we can no longer keep our children safe. We can no longer keep ourselves safe. We MUST fight. Fight for those who lost their lives and can no longer continue the fight. Hopefully, one day, Highland Park can go back to being known as "The Charlie Brown days" where friends, families and neighbors don't have to be worried that they might be next.