It has been over a month since the tragedy at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, that left the community grappling with profound grief and loss. Four lives were senselessly taken, including two dedicated teachers and two young students, each with dreams and futures ahead of them.
As we continue to mourn this heartbreaking event, it’s crucial to remember the importance of compassion and support for those affected. The pain felt by the families, friends, and the entire community is immeasurable. In these dark times, coming together to offer empathy, understanding, and a helping hand can provide a glimmer of hope and healing.
School shootings have become tragic markers of societal dysfunction. While much of the discourse centers on external factors such as gun control, an essential element is often overlooked: the emotional landscape that underlies these acts of violence. Repressed emotions, particularly in young individuals, can significantly contribute to such extreme behaviors.
Children and teenagers experience a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to anger and sadness. Children also experience emotions at a much deeper level than adults. The problem is that not all emotions are expressed or processed healthily. Societal pressures and family dynamics often lead to the suppression of uncomfortable feelings like fear, anger, frustration, or hopelessness. These buried emotions do not simply disappear; they build up and can manifest in destructive ways.
The modern education system, combined with societal expectations, often leaves little room for emotional expression. Students are taught to perform, behave, and excel, but rarely are they encouraged to explore their deeper emotional worlds.
Emotional literacy is as essential as academic education, yet it is frequently neglected. This gap can lead to emotional isolation, especially for those who already feel marginalized or misunderstood. Over time, this isolation breeds a disconnect from both self and others.
Repressed emotions can act like a pressure cooker, silently intensifying until they find an outlet. For some, this release manifests itself in acts of self-harm or substance abuse. For others, it may lead to outward violence, such as school shootings. Many of these shooters share common traits: feelings of isolation, intense anger, and a sense of being wronged by society or peers. According to police studies, 94% of school shooters are considered to be marginalized children. These are the hallmarks of unresolved emotional pain, often stemming from years of feeling unheard and unseen.
When individuals lack the tools to process their emotions healthily, they may turn to violence as a way of expressing what they cannot say. Repressing emotions does not erase them—it amplifies their power until they demand to be heard, sometimes in the most catastrophic ways. School shootings are not simply acts of evil; they are manifestations of deep emotional wounds, where the capacity for empathy and connection has been eroded by years of unprocessed pain.
This understanding does not excuse the violence but instead provides a crucial lens for addressing the root causes. As a society, we must prioritize emotional education, ensuring that children and teens have the tools to express their emotions in healthy, constructive ways. Schools can play a pivotal role in this transformation, integrating emotional intelligence training alongside traditional academics.
One effective exercise to foster compassion is to have each student write down one positive quality about every classmate. This activity shifts how individual students are perceived by their peers. The bully might be recognized for leadership skills, while the stoner could be seen for their artistic talent. By acknowledging the unique gifts others bring, we help them see themselves in a new and more positive light. The teacher can then compile all the good qualities of each student as reported by the other students. A child who is marginalized, when faced with 35 statements of the good they bring to the classroom, now sees themselves in a different light.
This approach is not just about preventing shootings; it is about fostering a generation that is emotionally aware, empathetic, and capable of resolving conflict without resorting to violence. By addressing the root of repressed emotions, we can begin to change the narrative. It’s time to make emotional health a priority in our schools and communities.
Angela Legh is an International Freelance Author, an International Bestselling Author, and Motivational Speaker. She is passionate about promoting emotional intelligence with her book series The Bella Santini Chronicles.