An unfortunate and quite unbelievable drill that our school age kids must practice from time to time is the ‘Active Threat’ drill. I can’t fathom that this is something our children have to even worry about, but there is extreme evil and stupidity in the world, and thus, our schools must practice this drill in case of a school shooting.
I’m all for these drills in that it helps school administrators, teachers, and students reinforce what they are to do if something were to happen. I’m all for them… but I had a gut check a few years back when Kya was in 4th grade.
At our school, there are 2 types of drills. One where all the adults in the building know the drill is happening and at what time. The other type is where only a couple higher-ups know, meaning the teachers and students have no idea if it’s a drill…or if it’s real. On one particular spring day, the latter type of drill was about to take place.
Of all moments, of all days…Kya was in the restroom when the drill began. Once the ‘Code’ was announced over the PA system school wide, she finished up quickly and scurried back to her classroom. One issue, step number 1 in the drill requires the teacher to close and lock the door, and not let ANYONE in…no exceptions.
My sweet daughter made it back to her classroom only to find the door was shut. She knocked, but the rule is the rule. No one answered, no one opened the door. I get it, she could’ve been the perpetrator, but instead, she was caught in bad timing of a restroom break.
So, there she was, the only person in an empty hallway, and no one knew whether this was a drill…or the real thing. Her young mind raced for options of what to do. And only being 9 years old at the time, her brain took her Below the Line. If you’ve followed me long enough, you know I quote Marcus Aurelius’ famous saying: “We often suffer more from imagination than reality.” In those next few seconds, her mind imagined being shot by a madman and never being able to see her family again. She began to cry.
I can only imagine how she felt. Isolated, lonely, exposed, locked out. No one to help, no one to protect her. As her father, it’s my responsibility to protect my family. When I drop her off at school, I have to trust that they will provide her the protection that I can’t since I’m not there. And during these drills, they practice that protection. But that day, she was vulnerable. The protection removed, she was in the hallway, frantic for options, wanting her teacher to open the door.
In the next few seconds that elapsed, she knew she couldn’t just stand there and cry by the door, she had to take action. She scurried back to the bathroom, climbed up onto the toilet seat so her shoes couldn’t be seen from under that stall, locked the stall door, and whimpered quietly, hoping for the best.
Fortunately, it was just a drill.
Ever been locked out?
No, not during an active threat drill. Rather, at life?
Ever had a desire that was just out of reach?
A dream bigger than your ability to comprehend?
A solution seemingly behind a door that is barred shut?
Ever desire to get to the other side of a problem, but the obstacle felt too big?
The fog too thick?
The door dead-bolted?
In these times of tumult, what shall we do? Plop down at the foot of the mountain and cry? Stare at the obstacle and wish upon our lucky stars that it would move? Beat at the door until our knuckles bleed?
Or, like Kya, shall we take action? Find another way. Another way through, or around, or over. That’s what Kya did. She figured it out. No one would’ve known she was in there. She was hidden, quiet as a mouse. Safe. Protected not by her teacher, but by her decision to take action.
What about you? Ready to break through? Ready to take action? Ready to solve your problem? Don’t sulk and hope for the best. Take a deep breath, resolve to find the solution. Face forward, shoulders back. Face the storm. Blaze your trail.
And live on purpose today.
