The Principal of Whitney Young High School Was Almost Shot and Killed and I am Making Him a Quilt

The principal of Whitney Young High School was almost shot and killed on Friday and I am making him a quilt. They are saying it was random. Needless to say, everyone wishes him well that he is unscathed. He went on the overhead intercom and thanked his well wishers today.

I have a lot to say about the lack of gun control and mental health services that contribute to situations like this, most especially the with the scenarios I have seen having been a nurse for 25 years. I had a discussion with one of my coworkers who is also a Northeastern Illinois university student in education. She felt I had seen a lot as a nurse. I had to tell her that we will all see a lot more of what healthcare workers observe in their jobs because of the lack of mental health services. Those responsibilities are being given to schools, churches and, unfortunately, law enforcement, who do not have the training to handle it. 

My major is English. Ironically, I had to give a group presentation in one of my teacher certification classes on Monday on “To Kill a Mockingbird.” In group discussions, I shared that as a nurse, I happened to come into contact with a forensic psychiatrist who refused a high profile crime case because he felt the person was guilty, but he did not want that to cloud his judgment. He felt Even though in the end, this person was found guilty by a court of law, I felt this forensic psychologist was a real life Atticus Finch. This is America. Everyone deserves a fair trial. 

The children have their own way of handling it. Ironically, they are giving a presentation on the innocence project today. And I do agree, regardless of guilt or innocence, this is America and everyone is supposed to have a fair trial. 

At times like these, I sew because I honestly don’t know what else to do, so I am making him a quilt to wish him well.