One item that I believe everyone in America can agree on is that we have far too many school shootings and mass shootings in this country. in this collection we take a look at a school shooting from two different perspectives. 1 from the perspective of the excitement of the first day of school and the second from the perspective of someone we experienced a school shooting but still felt it important to make sure that people knew that the shooter was a nice kid. In Desk Umbrella we follow a young high school student through their first day. They're making new friends they're downloading social apps and they're experiencing their teachers and their classes for the first time. But it is in the midst of the speedy pace and the joy of the first day of school that shots are heard. In a matter of seconds their life is changed forever as they find themselves hiding underneath a desk like all of us did in elementary school to keep us safe. In Nice Kid We listen to the moments that lead up to the beginning of a school shooting. Hearing from the perspective of a student who knew everyone involved and how bullying can push a teenager who is already struggling with personal experiences and a difficult home life over the edge. But as described in this poem this particular kid was seen as a nice kid. It is important to remember that everyone who makes a bad decision has a family that could potentially love them very deeply and not see them as anything other than nice. *There is no justification for school shooting. There is never a reason to turn to violence.