>> George: WRE BACK WITH OUR GMA
COVER STORY. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 12 YEARS
SINCE THE SANDY HOOK MASSACRE THAT KILLED 20 FIRST GRADERS AND
6 EDUCATORS. I SAT DOWN WITH SURVIVORS OF THE
CLASS AS THEY GET READY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY SAY HOW THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR CLASSMATES THEY LOST AND
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. >> ACTION!
>> George: LAUGHTER AND SMILES, THE HALL MARK OF HIGH SCHOOLERS
EAGERLY ANTICIPATING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES.
LOOKING FORWARD TO GRADUATION? >> OH, YEAH.
>> George: WHAT ARE THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF SCHOOL LIKE?
>> WE HAVE PROM, SENIOR SKIP DAY.
WE HAVE SOME THINGS LIKE THE DINNER DANCE COMING UP.
>> George: THESE SIX STUDENTS PART OF THE FIRST GRADE CLASS
THAT WAS FOREVER CHANGED DECEMBER 14, 2012.
WHEN A GUN MAN SHOT HIS WAY INTO SANDY LOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN
NEW TOWN CONNECTICUT KILLING 20 FIRST GRADERS ALL BETWEEN THE
AGES OF 6 AND 7, AND SIX EDUCATORS.
THIS HEADLINE FROM THE HARTFORD CURRENT RIGHT HERE SAYS IT ALL
OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN SPEAKING FOR SO MANY AMERICANS TODAY.
I KNOW THIS MUST BE SO HARD TO TALK ABOUT, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT
WHAT YOU DO REMEMBER ABOUT THAT DAY.
ELLA, GRACE, LILLY WERE TOGETHER IN THE SAME CLASSROOM THAT
MORNI MORNING.
>> WE HID IN THE CUBBY AND OUR TEACHER READ SOME STORIES TO US
LIKE THE NUTCRACKER. BEFORE WE WENT TO HIDE INTO THE
CUBBIES, THE LOUD SPEAKER WENT ON.
THIS WAS PROBABLY THE MOST TRAUMATIZING PART OF THE WHOLE
THING. 'CAUSE WE HEARD OUR PRINCIPAL
AND SHE TOLD US, LIKE, KID, GO HIDE INTO YOUR SAFE SPOTS AND
THEN WE HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THEN THE PHONE KIND OF WENT OFF.
>> George: YOU ACTUALLY HEARD THE GUN SHOTS?
>> I KNEW IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN BAD BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS WERE
SUPER CONCERNED WITH KEEPING THEIR VOICES DOWN.
DEFINITELY A WEIRD SITUATION BETWEEN KNOWING SOMETHING WAS
WRONG WAS NOT KNOWING HOW BAD IT WAS.
>> George: YOU WERE IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THE SHOOTER?
>> YEAH. WE WERE READING A BOOK IN THE
FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
I REMEMBER A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE DOING CONSTRUCTION ON
THE ROOF. SO WHEN THE POPPING SOUND
STARTED HAPPENING WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MORE CONSTRUCTION ON
THE ROOF, DON'T WORRY. BUT I REMEMBER BEING AT THE
FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM AND HE CAME IN AND STOOD RIGHT NEXT TO
ME. I WATCHED ALL MY FRIENDS DROP
AND ONE OF THE VICTIMS DID NOT MAKE IT.
HE TOLD ME AND A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE TO RUN AND WE DID.
WE RAN OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, OUT OF THE SCHOOL.
ON THE WAY WE SAW BODIES IN THE HALLWAYS AND DOORS BLOWN OFF
HINGES. WE JUST RAN AND RAN OUT OF THE
SCHOOL OUT INTO THE PARKING LOT. >> George: HOW HAUNTING HE TOLD
YOU TO RUN. I THINK IT WAS YOU, YOU HAVE THE
FAMOUS PHOTO. >> I WAS A FAMOUS PICTURE OF ME
AND MY SISTER. I'M STANDING THERE CRYING,
COVERING MY FACE. I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT'S
GOING ON OBVIOUSLY IN THAT PICTURE.
JUST A SNAP SHOT. ONCE WE FINALLY GOT OUT OF THE SCHOOL.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TIME.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THE WHOLE THING.
I KNEW IF MY MOM WAS CRYING, MY MOM WAS SO SCARED THAT SOMETHING
HORRIBLE HAD HAPPENED. I NEVER SAW HER LIKE THAT
BEFORE. I HAVEN'T SINCE.
I HOPE I NEVER DO. >> George: GMA ACTUALLY SPOKE TO
YOU TON DAY AFTER THE SHOOTING. >> WE HEARD THIS RACKET AT OUR
CLASSROOM. WE WERE LIKE ALL SCARED.
THEN WE HEARD THEM SAY GO IN YOUR CUBBIES.
>> George: WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THAT?
>> I THINK I TRY NOT TO REMEMBER TOO MUCH JUST 'CAUSE THERE WAS
SO MUCH GOING ON. I DO REMEMBER THOUGH AFTER THE
INTERVIEW I GOT AN AMERICAN GIRL DOLL AS A PRESENT.
THAT I STILL HAVE ACTUALLY. >> George: DOES IT HELP TO TALK
ABOUT IT? >> I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT DOES
ESPECIALLY FOR ME PERSONALLY. WHEN I GET TO TALK TO THESE FIVE
OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S COMFORTING IN A WAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS
CONNECTION THAT'S NEVER GOING TO GO AWAY.
BUT IT'S STILL EVEN OVER TEN YEARS LATER, JUST SO DIFFICULT
TO TRY AND DIG UP THOSE MEMORIES 'CAUSE OF HOW TRAUMATIC AND
PAINFUL IT IS. >> George: HOW DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THE CLASSMATES YOU LOST? >> I JUST TRY AND REMEMBER THEM
EVERY DAY. I HAVE MY FRIEND'S NAME TATTOOED
ON MY SHOULDER SO HE STAYS WITH ME EVERY DAY.
>> George: THESE YOUNG PEOPLE SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AS FUTURE THERAPIST,
LAWYERS AND POLITICIANS. >> HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
>> GREAT. >> George: THEY EVEN MADE A
VISIT TO THE VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FOR NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION DAY AS PART OF THE JUNIOR NEW TOWN ACTION ALLIANCE.
>> WE WENT TO D.C. TO THE NATIONAL VIGIL IN DECEMBER AND I
THINK WHEN I WENT THERE, IT WAS VERY EYE OPENING TO ME.
WE SAT DOWN WITH SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR
STAFFERS. THAT OPPORTUNITY OF ME BEING
ABLE TO GO TO CONGRESS AND SPEAK TO THESE PEOPLE IN SUCH HIGH
POSITIONS OF POWER. IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND
MADE ME WANT TO FIGHT FOR SOMETHING THAT I WISH TO CHANGE.
>> George: HOW ABOUT YOUR DESIRE TO BE A THERAPIST?
DID THAT GROW OUT OF THIS? >> ABSOLUTELY.
I HAVE BASICALLY KNOWN THAT I WANTED TO BE A THERAPIST SINCE I
WAS 8 WHICH WAS REALLY ONLY A YEAR AFTER THE SHOOTING.
I HAVE KIND OF ALL BEEN REFERRED TO AS THE THERAPIST FRIEND.
BUT I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THERAPY ALMOST MY WHOLE LIFE,
ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SHOOTING. IT'S REALLY JUST HELPED ME COPE
AND HELP ME LEARN ABOUT MYSELF. SO I WANT TO TRY AND PAY THAT
FORWARD AND HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH GUN VIOLENCE.
EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T WHO ARE JUST STRUGGLING IN THEIR DAILY LIFE.
>> George: YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER COMING HERE THINKING IF THERE'S
ANY, ANY, ANY, ANY SILVER LINING OUT OF THIS IS THAT MAYBE THIS
WILL SHOCK PEOPLE INTO CHANGING THE WAY WE DEAL WITH ALL THIS.
YET WE'VE SEEN THE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS JUST INCREASE AND
INCREASE AND INCREASE EVERY YEAR.
WHEN YOU SEE ANOTHER SHOOTING LIKE UVALDI, WHAT GOES THROUGH
YOUR MIND? >> THEY DON'T NEED US TO SAY,
I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. THEY JUST WANT CHANGE.
LIKE, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED TO US.
IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM.
I JUST THINK PEOPLE IN POWER, OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE POWER TO MAKE
CHANGE, SHOULD DO IT INSTEAD OF THE 17, 18-YEAR-OLDS TRYING TO
DO THEIR WORK FOR THEM. >> George: WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE
CHANGE YOU THINK WE NEED? >> STIPULATIONS ON AR-STYLE
ASSAULT WEAPONS. I THINK ONE OF THE HARDEST
THINGS IS GETTING PEOPLE TO SEE EYE TO EYE ON IT.
AND I THINK THAT STOPS A LOT OF REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATION,
WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS COSTING MORE AND MORE LIVES EVERY DAY.
>> George: DOES IT MAKE YOU THINK ADULTS HAVE LET YOU DOWN?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I THOUGHT SANDY HOOK WOULD SHOCK
PEOPLE AND WAKE EVERYBODY UP, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST KEEPS
HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. >> George: IF THERE'S ONE THING
YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE AND WHAT IT'S
MEANT TO YOU, WHAT IS IT? >> AS UNFORTUNATE AS IT IS, IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. IT'S GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING TO
SOMEONE ELSE UNTIL PEOPLE MAKE THE CHANGE.
WE WORRY ABOUT ONE DAY WE'LL HAVE KIDS.
I DON'T WANT TO SEND MY KIDS TO SCHOOL IN THE WAY OUR WORLD IS.
>> I MEAN, THE TRAGEDIES NEVER END.
THE FRIENDS, FAMILY WHO WERE LOST THAT DAY, THE SMILING FACES
THAT SHOULD BE FILLING THE SEATS IN YOUR CLASSROOM, PARENTS
WATCHING THEIR KIDS GRADUATE, GET MARRIED.
IT'S NEVER OVER. >> WE DON'T WANT I'M SORRYS.
IT'S PAST THAT. IT'S HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES.
YOUR PRAYERS HONESTLY DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.
DOESN'T HELP ME. I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS FOR
TEN YEARS. IT WILL NEVER GET EASIER, NO
MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TALK ABOUT IT.
HONESTLY, IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE. NO MORE SORRYS.
>> George: HMM. >> Michael: HMM IS RIGHT.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO GO BACK AND TALK WITH THESE KIDS?
>> George: THEY'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH.
LAST TIME I WAS THERE THEY WERE IN FIRST GRADE.
WHAT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE AND YOU SAW A LOT OF IT IN THAT PIECE,
IS HOW ALL OF THEM ARE COMMITTED TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THIS
TRAGEDY IN A WAY TO HELP OTHERS AND HELP THEIR COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE NOT FLAGGED IN THAT IN ANY WAY.
REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF KIDS.
THEY ALL GRADUATE TOMORROW. >> Michael: CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.
VERY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF THINGS. THEY PUT EVERYTHING SO SIMPLE. SO SIMPLY SAID.
>> George: THEY SURE DO.
