Active Shooter Seminar: Run, Hide, Fight (Career Development): Learn, Live, Survive

 On September 18, I attended the Active Shooter Seminar hosted by Chief Perdue. The seminar highlighted local history of recent school shootings, both off campus and within the AUC. It also explained the differences between sheltering in-place and having a full lockdown, as well as what to do in the different stages of an active assailant or shooter being on Spelman's campus. At the end, we watched a short film about getting yourself to safety in the event of a shooting, and the audience had the opportunity to ask questions to further understand the subject.

I grew up in a single-parent household, along with being raised by a single grandmother. In that type of environment, I learned how to be resilient and self-reliant, both in my professional (meaning school) and personal life. However, with that being said, my mother also taught me to always ask for help and educate myself if I don't know something or how to do something, and that's why I attended this seminar. A part of it was because it's only me out here in Atlanta. My family and I are from Maryland, and the rest of my extended family is in the Midwest. In other words, they're really all I have, so there will be certain situations where I'll need help and they won't be there. Therefore, it's very important that I learn to take care of myself, and that includes learning all that I can about potential life-threatening situations that could occur on campus or within the AUC. Another part of the reason why I attended the seminar was because it aligned with what I want to do in the field of social justice and advocacy. I'm all for fighting for the underdog, giving them a chance to have their voices heard even if it means change won't come instantaneously. Fighting for what's right is a part of who I am, and by any means necessary, I will educate myself and share my story in what it truly means to learn, live, and survive. 

Being safe isn't just about learning what not to do and where not to go. It's about learning how to adapt when your life is in potential and actual danger, and that's where we practice Purposeful Attention. Setting aside time for yourself to make sure you're okay is an example of giving undivided energy and care to something that you deem important, because we should be important to us. By taking the time to attend seminars regarding safety, as well as asking questions to authority figures who work with multiple safety departments, gives us a chance to focus on what's ahead and how we move forward from these situations. 

by Caitlyn Hickman '29