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Schools

Coming Together as One to Remember a Friend

The student body of Mira Costa High School is coming together to honor the life of junior Darius Smith.

High school is filled with the usual trials and tribulations: "Did I make honor roll?"or "Do I have enough friends?" All of this is expected when you walk through the door of your first period class. But you never expect to hear that you have lost a friend or fellow student.

Last week, the Mira Costa student body was shocked by the death of a fellow student, Darius Smith. After talking to some of my friends who knew Darius, I heard nothing but good things about him. He was kind, smart and well-liked.

As a freshman, I never got the opportunity to meet Darius, a junior, but I am very familiar with the significant impact he has made on our school. Students who knew him as well as those who didn't are taking every opportunity to reach out to meet new students, or be there for people who might need them.

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Students who knew Darius are mourning their loss, but at the same time remembering all the good times they shared. All students, however, are making changes in the way we want to live our lives. Friends of mine are ensuring they will cherish their family and friends, savor every moment, but still always look forward to tomorrow.

Improving the way we live is not the only way students are honoring Darius's life. In the past week, I have seen a level of unity between teachers, students and the administration that I have never seen before. Teachers, no matter the lesson plan, have taken the time to help students who were struggling getting through the day. Students have been quick to offer sympathies to any friends who were very close to Darius. And his friends even set up impromptu memorials on his desk in some of his classes—with flowers and Post-It notes remembering good times. 

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The night after his death was announced, I received many text messages—mostly from people who didn't even know Darius—asking that I wear black to school the next day in his memory. They were hoping to get the whole school to wear black, and many students did. A Facebook page set up to help remember Darius had 1,400 members in under a week.

Mira Costa High School has come together in this time of loss to remember someone who will be missed for a long time to come. Times of tragedy can show the true unity and togetherness we can achieve. It all comes down to people supporting other people during hard times and being together as one community and one student body.

Adam Gerard is a freshman at Mira Costa High School.

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