My speech for Run4Beigel
Thank you all for coming, when I first posted the picture of my coach that many of you have seen, I didn’t realize all the love I would receive. I posted this picture because many people at Douglas did not know him as it was his first year at the school.
Thank you all for coming, when I first posted the picture of my coach that many of you have seen, I didn’t realize all the love I would receive. I posted this picture because many people at Douglas did not know him as it was his first year at the school.
He has been an inspiration and strength for me. I remember when I was struggling with my studies for the SAT, I turned to him for help. So he told me what he did when he was my age. With his counsel, I was able to improve my score tremendously and receive a scholarship to college
My biggest regret is that I never went back to him to thank him and tell him that my score improved. So I wanted to show the world who he was. This run wasn’t just for him but it is in honor of everyone. This is also for Coach Feis, Coach Hixon, Meadow, Nicholas, Helena, Carmen,
Luke, Peter, Jaime, Alyssa, Gina, Alex, Alaina, Martin, Cara all the other heroes that were injured and some even fighting for their lives at this moment. Including Maddy, Anthony, Ben and plenty others. These brave souls took numerous bullets and are still surviving at the mome
ent. I wish I was able to have a relationship with everyone of you but I couldn’t. All I can do now is show as much love as I can to everyone around me. This is also to celebrate my brother Joaquin. He was a gift to the world that was taken too soon. I miss him so much and I’m
going to continue to stay strong for him. The only reason why I am up here talking to you all is because he would have done the same thing if it was me. I have heard of other shootings and tragic events around the country. I have said my condolences like everyone does...and went
with my life. But now that this tragedy has hit my own home, it feels like the world is falling apart. I thought I couldn’t live with myself after I heard he was gone. I was in shock for days. I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t eat and lost weight like many of the other survivors.
This became very real when I visited this park Friday night and saw all the cross you see here today. I couldn’t bear the pain anymore, but the love I have been receiving from all of you and the rest of the world has been amazing and truly uplifting. I only found some kind of
peace after I talked to Joaquin’s parents. They told me to stay strong for him and he wouldn’t want to see me in a broken state. I wouldn’t want anyone to experience this tragedy because this could have been easily prevented. The parkland community is going to keep on fighting
and we are not going to stop! I also want to congratulate west Boca for taking a stand but that doesn’t mean everyone else has to do the same thing. It was a very dangerous act. Walking 14 miles is dangerous enough, but walking barefoot is even worse. I can’t thank them enough
but we don’t want anyone following in their footsteps. Please everyone be careful in your acts to change the world. We don’t need anymore hurting.
Thank you.... after the speech I just recently heard that plenty of Schools are walking to Douglas tomorrow and as long as they are hydrated and have shoes on i am okay with it. I am trying to get some friends to join them tomorrow!
This was the most painful piece I had to write.
