Friends killed - now the survivors take their exams

For nearly twelve years ago, 20 of their classmates in the first class were killed in one of the deadliest attacks on a school in the USA. Now the survivors are taking their exams with mixed emotions.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 12 2024

Friends killed - now the survivors take their exams
Photo: Bryan Woolston/AP/TT

Share this article

For nearly twelve years ago, 20 of their classmates in the first grade were killed in one of the deadliest attacks on a school in the USA.

Now the survivors are taking their exams with mixed emotions.

Many former classmates and teachers could not attend the graduation ceremony with the graduating class in Newtown, Connecticut on Wednesday.

They fell victim to the school shooting in Sandy Hook on 14 December 2012. In total, 20 first-grade pupils and six teachers were killed.

We've been waiting for this day our whole lives, since nursery school. Now it's here and we're ready, but it's impossible to forget that a big part of our class is missing, says Emma Ehrens, now 17 years old, and one of the eleven first-graders in classroom 10 who survived the attack.

She managed to escape when the perpetrator reloaded his weapon and another pupil shouted for everyone to run. That pupil was later one of the five children killed in the classroom.

Emma Ehrens is glad to have finished high school, she says, but feels sorrow at having to go on stage without everyone being able to be there.

I want to believe they'll be there with us and walk across the stage with us.

Last week, several of the young people met with US Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to talk about their experiences. The event has motivated them to engage against gun violence.

I wanted to turn something so terrible into something else, and that these children and educators didn't die in vain, says survivor Lilly Wasilnak.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Half a Million Evacuate Due to Severe Floods in Eastern Pakistan
1 MIN READ

Half a Million Evacuate Due to Severe Floods in Eastern Pakistan

Gaza City Evacuation Plan Deemed Unrealistic by Red Cross Chief
2 MIN READ

Gaza City Evacuation Plan Deemed Unrealistic by Red Cross Chief

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv
1 MIN READ

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives
1 MIN READ

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured
1 MIN READ

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured

EU Faces Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine
1 MIN READ

EU Faces Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution
1 MIN READ

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death
2 MIN READ

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death

Landslide Blocks E6 in Norway; One Person Missing and Feared Dead
3 MIN READ

Landslide Blocks E6 in Norway; One Person Missing and Feared Dead

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan
2 MIN READ

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan

EU Remains Divided on Sanctions Against Israel Over Gaza Conflict
3 MIN READ

EU Remains Divided on Sanctions Against Israel Over Gaza Conflict

White House Efforts Ongoing for Putin-Zelensky Meeting
1 MIN READ

White House Efforts Ongoing for Putin-Zelensky Meeting

Trump's Vision to Transform Washington DC: Safety and Beautification Plans
3 MIN READ

Trump's Vision to Transform Washington DC: Safety and Beautification Plans

Ukraine Hit by Massive Overnight Attacks; Several Injured
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Hit by Massive Overnight Attacks; Several Injured

Missouri Governor Seeks to Redraw Electoral Districts for GOP Gains
1 MIN READ

Missouri Governor Seeks to Redraw Electoral Districts for GOP Gains

Italian Website Sharing Sexist Images of Politicians Shut Down
1 MIN READ

Italian Website Sharing Sexist Images of Politicians Shut Down

US Denies Visa for Palestinian President Abbas Ahead of UN Meeting
2 MIN READ

US Denies Visa for Palestinian President Abbas Ahead of UN Meeting

France and Germany Boost Ukraine Air Defense Amid Russian Attacks
2 MIN READ

France and Germany Boost Ukraine Air Defense Amid Russian Attacks

Turkey Closes Airspace to Israel Amid Gaza Conflict
1 MIN READ

Turkey Closes Airspace to Israel Amid Gaza Conflict

Trump Ends Kamala Harris' Extended Bodyguard Protection
1 MIN READ

Trump Ends Kamala Harris' Extended Bodyguard Protection