I Choose to Be Happy: A School Shooting Survivor's Triumph Over Tragedy

I Choose to Be Happy: A School Shooting Survivor's Triumph Over Tragedy | Missy Jenkins

Today in the town next door there was a horrible school shooting. The book tagged was written by a survivor of a school shooting literally 30 miles away, 20yrs ago. To have 2 school shootings so close in proximity, 20 yrs apart is heart wrenching. 2 confirmed dead & 14 with gun shot wounds. Please keep this town in your thoughts & prayers. These are children my child competes against in archery & goes to camps with in the summer. Such a tragedy.

vkois88 *hugs* thoughts and prayers being sent that way 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thoughts and prayers 💔 🙏🏻 7y

AmyG Heartbreakinng. My thoghts are with the families, the school and the town. 😪 7y

See All 19 Comments

cobwebmoth So sad.😔 7y

VanChocStrawberry I‘m so sorry. I can‘t imagine how scary that would be. 7y

MaureenMc 😞🙏💔 7y

rockpools I'm so sorry. 💔 7y

Booksnchill Is that the shooting in Benton? 7y

Jas16 So heartbreaking 7y

GripLitGrl 😢💔🙏 7y

Velvetfur Oh gosh that's so horrible. What the hell is going on in the world, when children can't even be safe in school? I hate the way life is now 😢 7y

Purrfectpages I just read about this. So heartbreaking. 7y

SassyBookworm @Booksnchill yes ma‘am. I have many friends effected. Just a terrible tragedy 7y

Booksnchill My husband is from KY and we both went to college at Transylvania. So sad for the community and us all. 7y

LibrarianRyan This is heart breaking. I was where you are 4-5 months ago. Actual deaths just make it worse. You and your community will recover. It will not be easy and it will not be soon. But it will come. And beware of stupid teenagers from other communities posting stupid and hurtful things in the next few days. I didn't realize how common it was until it happened in my town. Prayers and thought at this time. 7y

SandyW Saw this on the news this morning. Such a heartbreaking story. 7y

erzascarletbookgasm 😥💔😡🙏 7y

DiannaHardy Very sorry to read this. My heart goes out to you 😢💖 7y

minkyb So sorry to read this. Truly heartbreaking. 7y

88 likes19 comments

britt_brooke

I Choose to Be Happy: A School Shooting Survivor's Triumph Over Tragedy | Missy Jenkins

Twenty years ago today, these 3 young ladies, my schoolmates, were killed inside our rural Kentucky high school. Five more were injured including Missy Jenkins, who penned the tagged book (a good, but tough, read). It was a small school where everyone knew everyone. The shooter, a freshman, lived less than a half mile from me. I can‘t believe it‘s been 20 years. I feel guilty that this is a hard day for me when here I stand alive and well. 💛💛💛

LikelyLibrarian I‘m so sorry for your loss *hugs* 7y

DarcysMom 💜💜💜 7y

Booksnchill What a trauma to experience. Unimaginable. 7y

See All 72 Comments

3CatsAndABook 😢 7y

Zelma I am so sorry. That is just horrific and beyond words. 😥💙 7y

Librarybelle What a horrific and traumatic experience 💙💙😢 7y

Moray_Reads I'm so sorry. Try not to feel guilty, there was no transaction that swapped their lives for yours, you deserve to have your life just as much as they didn't deserve to lose theirs 💛💛 7y

CocoReads I‘m so sorry. How sad. 7y

Kalalalatja I can't even imagine how you must feel. I'm so sorry you have had to experience this, along with everybody else in your school. I'm even more sorry those three girls had to die. 😢 7y

KarenUK Sending a big hug... just unimaginable 💕💕💕 7y

MaureenMc How truly awful. 😔 7y

Bambolina_81 I am so sorry, I can't even imagine what that has been like for you 💕 7y

youneverarrived How awful 💔😢 so sorry. Sending love 🧡 7y

vivastory I'm so sorry you experienced this. That's unimaginable. 7y

DivineDiana Decided not to like this tragedy, but sending love to you. I can‘t even imagine. 7y

2BR02B That's truly horrifying. I'm so, so sorry you experienced this, but grateful you made it through. 7y

DGRachel {{hugs}} 7y

JacqMac So sad. 💕 7y

Jas16 I cannot even imagine. Sending love. 7y

ptkpepe98 Sending hugs and good thoughts your way.💕💕💕💕 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m sorry 💔💔 Sending ❤️your way... 7y

LeahBergen Hugs to you, my friend. 💕💕💕 7y

Hollie Thinking of you! ❤️ 7y

readordierachel 💙💙💙 7y

Betty Please know (you probably already do) that survivor's guilt is normal after a tragedy like this. Take care of yourself today. 7y

Lcsmcat ❤️❤️🤗 7y

slategreyskies Hugs and so much love to you on this hard day. 💕💕💕 7y

BarbaraBB I can‘t imagine what this must have meant to you and your community. Sending you love 💕 and good vibes 🍀🙏 7y

MicheleinPhilly ❤️ 7y

IamIamIam Omigosh, so sorry for your loss and the tragedy in your town. Thanks for sharing & I'll be sure to add the book and read it in tribute. 💜 7y

RealBooks4ever **hugs** 💜 7y

AmyG Omg. How tragic. I'm sorry. :( 7y

tammysue Sending *hugs* and thinking of you today 🌼💕 7y

riversong153 That‘s terrible! 7y

DivaDiane It must be horrible when it is so close to you. Hugs. 7y

Bookzombie I‘m so sorry. What a horrific thing to experience. 7y

britt_brooke @LikelyLibrarian @DarcysMom @Booksnchill @Seascape28 @Zelma @Librarybelle @Moray_Reads @CocoReads @Kalalalatja @KarenUK @MaureenMc @Bambolina_81 @youneverarrived @vivastory Thanks so much for the kind words. 💚 I just don‘t want anyone to forget them. 7y

mrp27 Oh wow... I can't imagine how difficult that was and has been for you. Sending positive thoughts. 7y

britt_brooke @DivineDiana @2BR02B @DGRachel @JacqMac @Jas16 @ptkpepe98 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @LeahBergen @Hollie @ReadOrDieRachel @Betty @Lcsmcat @slategreyskies Thanks so much for the kind words. 💚 I just don‘t want anyone to forget them. 7y

britt_brooke @BarbaraBB @MicheleinPhilly @IamIamIam @RealBooks4ever @whatshesreadingnow @riversong153 @DivaDiane @Bookzombie I so appreciate the kind words. 💚 These girls deserve to be remembered. 7y

britt_brooke @mrp27 Thanks for the kind words. 💚💚💚 7y

Kaye Thank you for sharing your friend‘s photos. So many times the victims get lost in the shuffle. They deserve to be remembered. And you were left here for a reason. Your friends wouldn‘t have wanted you to be with them. They‘d want you to be here, living your life. 7y

britt_brooke @Kaye Thanks for the kind words. You‘re right. 💚 7y

TricksyTails Reading this gave me chills. What a tragic thing to go through. I'm happy you're here and safe. Hugs to you. ♥️ 7y

LeeRHarry So awful, but as you say, they need to be remembered- thinking of you 💕 7y

CarolynM There is nothing for you to feel guilty about. Go on living well and honouring their memory. My heart goes out to you and your community. 7y

dylanisreading Thinking of you. ❤️ 7y

nomadreader 💙💙💙 7y

TNbookworm ❤❤ 7y

minkyb My heart goes out to you. I cannot even imagine what you all went through and living with the memories. Sending hugs. 7y

CoffeeBooksRepeat ❤️ 7y

NCNY How tragic. Take good care today. 7y

Reviewsbylola So horrible. 😢 7y

Eggs 😰😰 7y

Godmotherx5 What a respectful tribute. Please don‘t feel guilt. I‘m glad you are here to share & teach with each of your posts. Hugs to you today & everyday 🤗 7y

cobwebmoth That's so scary and sad. I'm glad you're here. Big hugs to you! 7y

britt_brooke @TricksyTails @LeeRHarry @CarolynM @Bianca @nomadreader @TNbookworm @minkyb @CoffeeBooksRepeat @NCNY @Reviewsbylola @Eggs @Godmotherx5 @cobwebmoth Thank you all for the kind words. And thanks for listening. 💚💚💚 7y

Anna40 It's wonderful that you remember the victims! Glad you survived! I hope you can celebrate being alive without feeling guilty today too! 7y

britt_brooke @Anna40 Thank you for the kind words. 💚💚💚 7y

ValerieAndBooks Thanks for sharing with us. I‘m sorry that this happened, and it‘s a good reminder that things need to be fixed somehow 😢. 7y

britt_brooke @ValerieAndBooks I completely agree. I can‘t believe these things become so prevalent. It hurts my heart and scares me for my sons. 7y

Jess7 Thought about you and others from Heath the other day! ((((Hugs))))) 💕🤗 7y

Jess7 @britt_brooke - were you at the high school that day? I think I was in the 5th grade and I remember my teacher‘s daughter went to Heath HS. I‘ll never forget the worry on her face. Did you go to school with Courtney Reynolds (now Butler)? (((Hugs))) 💕🤗 7y

britt_brooke @Jess7 Yes, I was a sophomore. Fortunately, I didn‘t see it happen. I‘m eternally grateful for this. I was in the classroom right above the lobby (where it happened) watching emergency vehicles arrive, and watching it on the news before ever being let out of the classroom. It was chaos. I don‘t know Courtney personally, I graduated with her brother Deke. Nice guy! 7y

Jess7 Wow! I can‘t even imagine. 💕 7y

britt_brooke @Jess7 💚 7y

Suet624 There are no words.... 7y

britt_brooke @Suet624 💚 7y

kspenmoll Just reading this now- can‘t imagine you & your community living through this tragedy. Lovely tribute. ❤️❤️to you. 7y

britt_brooke @kspenmoll Thank you for the kind words. 💚 7y

ghosthost No need for guilt. 💜 7y

britt_brooke @ghosthost 💚💚💚 7y

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britt_brooke

I Choose to Be Happy: A School Shooting Survivor's Triumph Over Tragedy | Missy Jenkins

I've spoken of this before, so bear with me. Sensationalization of school shootings in fiction is NOT okay.

On December 1, 1997, three of my classmates, Kayce, Jessica, and Nicole, lost their lives in the lobby of our rural Kentucky high school. Five others were injured including the author of this book. I was a sophomore. So many lives changed.

Every year on this day, I proudly wear this button. I've had it for 19 years. 💛

rachelm Peace to your classmates' families. 8y

AnnieReads What a traumatic and life changing experience. I wish that no child ever have to go through this. 8y

Reviewsbylola So horrible. 😢 8y

See All 25 Comments

LeahBergen Thanks for sharing this. Hugs to you 💗💗 8y

MicheleinPhilly ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 8y

Suet624 This broke my heart. 💔 8y

Louise Heartbreaking. What a traumatic and life-changing experience. Sending love and light to you and all who still carry the pain and sorrow of that terrible day. ❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️ 8y

JenniferJR ❤️️❤️️❤️️ 8y

Librariana I'm so very sorry to read about this event... and to learn of your and your classmates' experiences as a result of this tragedy 😔💙 8y

Merethebookgal 😢❤️ 8y

DebinHawaii I am so sorry for the experience you and your classmates had-the loss of lives, injuries and all of the anguish suffered. Thinking of all of you today. 💔 8y

Cinfhen Sending hugs and love to you and all those whose lives were changed that day❤️ 8y

Lesliereads 🙏🏿 8y

jmtrivera ❤ 8y

minkyb I want to say something meaningful to you but I cannot even imagine what you went through. If we were in the same room I'd give you a hug! 8y

Foxyfictionista A very sad anniversary. It's nice that you honor your friends' memories. It must be a difficult day for you. I wish I could give you a hug. ❤️ 8y

stacybmartin What a terrible life-changing horror you all had to go through - sending love to you and everyone else affected by this day. ❤️ 8y

Kirstin As I read their names, I think of their families. Sometimes my daughter comes home and tells me about 'lockdown drills' in school, how they practice hiding quietly in closets, and my heart breaks. Hugs to you. ❤️ 8y

britt_brooke @rachelm @AnnieReads @Reviewsbylola @LeahBergen @MicheleinPhilly @Suet624 @Louise @JenniferJR @librariana @Merethebookgal @DebinHawaii @Cinfhen @Lesliereads @jmtrivera @minkyb @Foxyfictionista @stacybmartin @Kirstin Thank you all so very much for the kind words and support. It really means a lot. 💛💛💛 8y

Scurvygirl ❤️❤️ Not much to say, it's horrifying and heartbreaking. It's horrible people have to endure these acts and for our children to have to prepare in school for them. Humans... where did we go wrong! 8y

mom2bugnbee @britt_brooke I had moved to Murfreesboro just 6 months before this shooting, & I remember it like it was yesterday. My deepest condolences to you & all affected. 8y

britt_brooke @mom2bugnbee Thank you. 💛 8y

britt_brooke @Scurvygirl Humans are odd, scary animals sometimes. It's crazy to think anyone could commit these kinds of acts. This boy just 14 years old. He lived less than a mile from me and rode the same bus for years. 8y

Dragon It's frightening to think that 19 years later these tragedies are still occurring in schools. My wish is that every child is safe in school in 2017. 8y

britt_brooke @Dragon The sheer volume of these occurrences is so unsettling. It breaks my heart. 8y

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britt_brooke

I Choose to Be Happy: A School Shooting Survivor's Triumph Over Tragedy | Missy Jenkins

#setinasmalltown + #inspiring #photoadaynov16 #nonfictionnovember

This book, written by one of my classmates from K-12, takes place in a small town. OUR small town. It details her experience 12.01.97 when another classmate, a boy we all knew, shot 8 kids, killing 3, in the lobby of our rural Kentucky high school. It forever changed our school, our community and our lives. This book is a tough read, but very inspiring!

NOTE below. 👇🏻

britt_brooke I do not respect authors who use fictional school shootings for entertainment value, or for a sick "twist." It makes me ill. I just needed to say that. Thanks for listening. ?? 8y

Theresa Wow. No words... 8y

Gleefulreader Wow. I'm actually reading Columbine right, and it is utterly gut wrenching. I'm sorry this happened in your community. 8y

See All 23 Comments

JonathanDunne @britt_brooke 👂👍 8y

britt_brooke @Gleefulreader Thank you. ☺️ I'd like to read Columbine, but I don't know if I can do it. 😔 8y

britt_brooke @JonathanDunne 😊 8y

britt_brooke @Theresa I know. 😔😢 8y

Cinfhen Oh wow, thanks for highlighting this read😢💔 8y

britt_brooke @Cinfhen Thanks for stacking it. 😊People often forget about our school because it happened so long ago (prior to Columbine; not that that's some accolade). It'll be 19 years on December 1. 😔 8y

Cinfhen @britt_brooke I just finished We Need to Talk About Kevin, a fictional story about a boy who commits mass murder at his high school. It highlighted several true accounts that occurred in the early to late 1990's and I was shocked at just how many there were 😥😱unfortunately, your school may have been mentioned. I need to go back and double check. So sad. 8y

Cinfhen Author Lionel Shriver did not use her story for sensationalism, but really as a cautionary tale and trying to understand a family's accountability, if that is even possible. 8y

britt_brooke @Cinfhen That's makes sense. 8y

LauraBeth I'll date myself here and say that the the Paducah shooting was so horrific and tragic when it happened. So sorry that it happened at all and also sorry that it was in your community. 8y

Gayan I use to work with someone who lived in Paducah when this happened. I live a few hours away and I remember it well. We Need To Talk About Kevin was a tough read but very well written and showed school shootings from another angle. 8y

LeahBergen Oh, how horrific but thank you for sharing this part of yourself. ❤️❤️ 8y

britt_brooke @LauraBeth It dates me, too. 😉I had just turned 16 when it happened. I was upstairs waiting for my English class to start. We were watching coverage on the news in the classroom (on lockdown) before we really knew what was going on. It was chaos. 8y

britt_brooke @LeahBergen 💕 8y

britt_brooke @Gayan it's crazy to think that it's been 19 years ago. 😔 8y

Gayan 💔 8y

Cortg I grew up in Newtown...Sandy Hook ES is less than 3 miles from my parents house. I worry about my kids and school shootings Every Single Day they leave for school 😥 8y

britt_brooke @Cortg It's awful that it's a legitimate thing we have to worry about. 8y

CherylDeFranceschi 💔 8y

Louise Sending hugs. These tragedies stay with us all somehow. I often think of the families and communities that have endured such events and of the worries parents today have to deal with. ❤️ 8y

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britt_brooke

I Choose to Be Happy: A School Shooting Survivor's Triumph Over Tragedy | Missy Jenkins

pick

Thank you, Missy, for sharing your story about what happened that horrifying December day our sophomore year at Heath High School .... and your challenges and triumphs after becoming wheelchair-bound. You are an amazing and inspiring human being. I'm privileged to know you.

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