An Important Reminder and Reflection
Jacqueline Lutz
Editor
As we are caught in a whirlwind of transition back to school and back to “normal” life, it is important to recognize and reflect upon the losses that we have suffered as a school, nation, and global community.
Certainly, the global pandemic played a large role in this loss. We lost in-person classes, vital interactions with peers and teachers, and some even say a whole year of learning. We also missed out on school traditions and rites of passage, such as the Class of 2020’s graduation, school dances, sports, clubs, and an entire senior year for the Class of 2021.
More significantly, however, there was life lost. People have lost family members and friends to COVID-19, and we as a community have lost fellow Alexandrians, Virginians, Americans, and people around the world to the disease.
Also since March 2020, we have lost fellow Titans: Maliyah Brown, Montrell Lucas, Franklin Hernandez Arevalo, Wilson Antonio Alvarez Benitez, and Thomas ‘Tommy’ Lacey. These members of our Titan family are greatly missed and mourned throughout our school community.
As we readjust to the new school year, let us remember and recognize the losses that we have all suffered and give ourselves and others grace. Throughout all of this, we did not lose time. We grew as students, as people, and as a community, and that is one of the most valuable things we can get out of loss. Growth.
If you need support, please know that you can reach out to your counselor, administrators, other student support staff, and teachers. You can also reach out to CrisisText and Crisis Link 24/7 by either texting CONNECT to 85511 or calling 703-527-4077.
