In the true situation of a man charging a school with a gun, someone taking over a plane or suicide bomber: what would you truly do? Would you protect those around you by trying to stop whatever is happening, or would you run the other direction? With the recent threats of a school shooting and the previous shootings this past year, it is becoming a common question of what you would do and how you would react in the event of such a tragedy.

Think seriously, I believe the majority of the American population would react cowardly. They would not have a second thought about someone else. Their only thoughts would consist of protecting themselves and worrying about their own life.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, keep that in mind. No one would judge you for not standing up and saving the day as if you are some kind of superhero. The world does not expect humans to do such a thing. Protecting yourself is normally the main priority and is a much respected reaction.  People would understand a person going under the table and not coming out until they know it is safe. If you follow ‘procedure’ you would protect yourself first. Take for example if a plane begins to crash. When the oxygen masks fall down, a person is instructed to put it on themselves before they worry about anyone else. It’s the same in a situation with a shooting; take care of yourself before worrying about others.

What if your best friend is in the school with you, and he/she isn’t able to get under a table to protect her or himself. Would you just leave your best friend and flee to safety, or would you protect your best friend in any way you can? Maybe it isn’t your best friend, maybe it is just an acquaintance, a favorite teacher, or just an innocent by stander. All it takes is one person to rearrange an entire situation. It only takes one.

Victoria Soto, a 27-year-old first grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary, saved her children during the shooting, but not her own life. She attempted to hide her students in a closet, but the armed man came in before she could complete this task. She then sacrificed her body as a human shield to protect her students from the oncoming ammunition. In her mind she probably did not think twice about her decision. It only takes five seconds of audacious courage to stand up to a threat.

Every person needs to know what the plan of action is during one of these situations. They should know how to respond and how to react. Saving someone else or not, everyone should be educated about emergency plans.

What should a person do during a tragedy like a school shooting? Should they grasp their five seconds of daring bravery, or should they do what their body naturally tells them to and safeguard their own life? With the world today, it could happen at any moment at any time. It is something that needs an implemented strategy and knowledge of actions to take. The question remains: What kind of person will you be?