Feb. 14 marked the first-year anniversary of the Parkland shooting in Florida, a tragedy that affected the lives and hearts of many and began an outcry for change.

In the last year, 17 community projects were created to honor each of the victims. The last of which was a mural that was recently unveiled at a nearby elementary school. The past year for the survivors has been a whirlwind, with the March for Our Lives rally on Washington, the tour across the country to register voters, investigations, hearings, finishing school and applying for colleges. The seemingly never-ending rush has made it difficult for some to mourn and process all that they lost. The unveiling of the mural was a time of quiet, mournful reflection of all that has happened in the last year and all that is still to come.

Many of the survivors, including Emma González, have become well known for “calling B.S.” on politicians who were not serious about gun control. Recently, the panel that was investigating the Florida high school massacre recommended in December that teachers who volunteer and undergo an extensive background check and training be allowed to carry concealed guns on campuses in an attempt to stop future shootings.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission voted 12-1 to recommend the necessary legislature, arguing that the one or two police officers or armed guard were not enough.

There are currently 28 states that allow teachers to carry firearms, according to a conservative nonprofit organization called the Crime Prevention Research Center.

Many fear that the introduction of more firearms will only compound the situation and that more guns are not the answer to the problem and tragedy of school shootings.

On Jan. 2, a 446-page report on the Parkland shooting investigation was sent to Gov. Rick Scott, incoming governor Ron DeSantis and the legislature. This report detailed failures that were found in the county school district’s security program that many believed to be the root of what led to the shooter, to have been able to enter the campus while carrying an AR-15 and a semi-automatic rifle.

While there has been controversy over the law passed that allows districts to elect to arm non-classroom employees, such as principals, administrators, custodians and librarians who undergo the proper training, there is even more controversy over the movement to arm teachers who are properly trained and vetted. One thing is clearly agreed upon: no matter what they believe, the best path to a solution is that all parties try to make improvements to a currently flawed system to provide the safest possible learning and living environment for students.

In a time of turmoil, disagreements and bipartisan politics, it is important to remember that while there are widely different views as to how to arrive at a better future, we are all working toward a common goal.

If the Parkland survivors taught us anything in the last year, it is that we work better together. Those students banded together to make the huge impact for social change and justice, setting a precedent that we should all follow in our own lives: to enact change in our own ways to make a better and safer tomorrow.