Personal Narrative Essay: Sofia's Breaking Up

It was difficult and uneasy to see family members in such a grief and pain and you don’t know what to say.

As stated before mass shootings have increased drastically throughout the decades. Just within 2017, the number of mass shootings are 293 with several deaths and injuries, (“Gun Violence Archive”). Within the last 10 years, the deadliest mass shootings have occurred in America history, (CNN). Recently in Las Vegas, Nevada held a music festival for people to enjoy and listen to music, but a shooting changed the evening for many. A man was in an hotel near the event and shot down towards the people and killed a total of 58 people and injured at least 200, (CNN). The Orlando shooting was right behind it with a total of 49 dead, (CNN). Since this has become a part of our everyday lives, we rarely hear about all the mass shootings that kill not even into the double digits.

On the night of December 19th, 2003, a baby is born. Her mom’s a social worker, her dad’s a nephrologist, and she has one older sister. Her name is Sophia Galoustian, although later she will wish to be called Sophie. After two years of living in Maine, the family moves to California, where Sophie will grow up.I am Sophia Galoustian, and this is part of who I am.

ORLANDO: On June 12, 2016 there was a mass shooting. This took place in a gay night club. The shooting was a

Rifle firing at midnight and siren passing through the streets one of the most serious news ever “Florida Massacre Shooting” Orlando biggest threat. Shot

June 12th 2016. At first glance this date means nothing to many, but as you dive deeper you realize that this date claims the deadliest mass shooting in United States history and the largest loss of life due an act of terrorism since 9/11. This is in reference to the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida where 49 people were murdered and another 53 patrons were injured. This is at the hands of Omar Mateen, 29, who was an American born citizen but was a self proclaimed ISIS member. Mateen called 9-11 mid attack trying to plead his allegiance to ISIS. After a three hour standoff with club goes still inside a SWAT team eventually rammed into a side of the building and the gunman was shot by the police force.

On Sunday, Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, became the scene of the largest massacre in American history. The gunman, Omar Mateen, a U.S born citizen, carried an assault rifle and a pistol into the club at around 2 a.m. and began shooting, killing 50 people and injuring 53. Mateen was shot and killed by police early morning on Sunday.

Did you know that the Orlando Shooting was the worst U.S mass shooting ever? It there was 49 deaths and 53 people wounded. The Orlando shooting impacted the families of the victims, it impacted the city of Orlando and it impacted the United States.

On October 1st at about 10:08 p.m., 64-year-old Stephen Paddock started rapidly shooting at an outdoor country music concert. The Route 91 Harvest festival was brought to a horrifying stop as the gunman opened fire at the ground of around 22,000 people. Police later found the gunman dead in his hotel room on the 32nd floor the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. This is now the deadliest shooting in modern US history, previously the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida was the deadliest with 49 people killed. We have learned that 58 people are dead and more than 500 people were injured and rushed to hospitals. Police believe that the gunman acted alone. When police searched Paddock’s hotel room, they found around 19 firearms, explosives,

Mrs. Sofia is a 46-year-old Hispanic female. Mrs. Sofia moved to the United States six months ago from the Dominican Republic. She moved with her family to Connecticut to better their lives and for greater job opportunities. Mrs. Sofia works at the local high school as a housekeeper. Mrs. Sofia is happily married with two daughters, one son, and she lives with her parents. Mrs. Sofia is very close with her family. Mrs. Sofia stated, “My family is the biggest part of my life and support system”. Mrs. Sofia’s primary language is Spanish, but can speak some English. Mrs. Sofia and her family believe in folk remedies in times of illness. In time of sickness, she uses herbs to help cure the illness. Since Mrs. Sofia is a immigrant from the Dominican Republic she was not able to receive the same type of health care that a typical American would have.

When my iPad started buzzing with all of these notifications, I knew that either it was a fascinating rumor about a celebrity or a sign that tragedy had struck once again. Reading the CNN headline, my body shook, I couldn’t believe what I have just read. There just had been a mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert, injuring more than 500 people with the police still looking for the killer. Waking up the next morning, the death toll had already climbed up to 40 people, including the gunman who the police had killed. Sitting down in seventh period, my teacher put up the headline of the attacks on the board, the death toll was up to 58 people making it one of the most deadly mass shootings in our history.

This became the worst mass shooting in American history. A little over a year prior a gunman attacked Pulse, a gay club in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people and injuring 58 (Los Angeles Times Staff, 2017). This tragic attack was the worst mass shooting in history until the Las Vegas attack. A year prior to this attack Dylann Storm Roof, a white supremacist, prayed with and shot nine members a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina (Los Angeles Times Staff, 2017). Lastly, the Los Angeles Times staff wrote about the Sandy Hook Mass Shooting in December of 2012 when Adam Lanza went into an elementary school in Newton, Connecticut, shot and killed 20 first graders, six adults, and himself (Los Angeles Times Staff, 2017). These attacks broke the heart of millions across the nation and caused the debate over stricter gun laws to be dominant in the discussion of public policies and reform.

Sheria Al-Annas tugged a lazy me around the party. Sighing, I rolled my eyes and just followed her. We stopped at a majestic marble fountain in the middle of the hall, where my friends were waiting.

Amy didn’t want to do this and break up their relationship. “What do you want to say?” Jeremy asked, still waiting for her to speak. She looked at his face, and to the ground again. “We have to break up.” She said with a trembling voice. Jeremy’s smile disappeared as his face turned serious. “Why? Did I do something wrong?” he asked, trying to remember if he said or did something wrong. Amy shook her head and sighed. “No, it’s not you. It’s me.” She responded, making it evident that she wasn’t thrilled saying

I met her two years ago and we did not have much to say at that time. Little did I know that she would later steal my heart and become an intimate part of my life. As the saying goes "there is someone for anyone at any time in this life" and I was about to find out that this saying was so true. I have had a wall built around me and my defense was as a stronghold to protect myself from all the relationships that have come and gone over the years. I thought that I was meant to be alone in this old life and happiness was forever gone from me. This wonderful woman I am speaking of is Mary Doe, and the joy she has given me has revived my hope and faith that I may have finally found love and peace within. She has made me feel like I am a child