Devante Lane Scholarship

Violence has become an overused punchline. As a native New Yorker, my relationship with the city is a mix of love and frustration, shaped by experiences that oscillate between the two extremes. Growing up, we made jokes about the thunderous echoes of bullets hitting street corners that we called our alarm clocks. We laughed about unnerving encounters with strangers that we feared would escalate into something far more sinister.​ The truth is, I don’t think we ever found it funny. We were petrified and the only way we knew to cope was to laugh it off. On February 8th, 2023, the thin veil of humor and ignorance that I was clinging onto had shattered. What was supposed to be a typical school day, a Wednesday took a catastrophic turn. Wednesdays used to be the peak of our week, when we could leave an hour sooner. Our routine, however, was disrupted by an incident that killed any lingering humor and forced us to confront the reality of our situation. Anyone who resides in New York is no stranger to high school brawls; some suspect hormonal teenagers are sure to get into a brawl or two, and perhaps that's all it was. But it wasn't; it was more. It was an example of how third parties interfere. Third parties tend to make decisions about people's lives that aren't their own, and that's exactly what the gunman did that day. He determined that our lives deserved to be more traumatic than innocent. Stealthily, he crept around the corner, clenching metal in his hands, and discharged his weapon aimelessly. His shots struck children uninvolved in the altercation, a guard dutifully performing his job, and the sole outcome for him was a sentence to prison. This is why I don’t laugh anymore because it reminds me of the screeching cries for help of my classmates. It reminds me of piercing lockdown alarms. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder of my past ignorance. It is easy to laugh at a joke you’ve never lived through, but now that I have I will spend every year of my life making sure gun violence is never taken as a joke again. When I began college life, I found myself asking, “How could I possibly contribute back to the gun epidemic in New York in the future?” but the truth is I can start now and I have. My classmates and I began an Instagram page called Harmony Over Harm, dedicated to educating people about gun violence in America and how it affects college students. Truthfully, I soon see us expanding to addressing gun violence as a whole because it’s too big of an issue to specify in one aspect. We want to bring awareness to how prominent gun violence is in our communities. Utilizing the research sources I am acquiring during my college journey, I aim to enlighten the broader public on events that might not be easily accessible to everyone. As an aspiring marketing major, fostering connections with people and captivating audiences will be a crucial aspect of my professional responsibilities. I envision using these skills not just for marketing campaigns or advertisements but, more importantly, for effecting tangible and meaningful change. It may be something simple at the moment yet I envision that, with the right networks and information, this platform will evolve into a formidable force capable of shaping legislation in New York. Perhaps, in the future, the gravity of gun violence will become a mere punchline, no longer a grim reality.

As a first-generation college student, I am determined to use my education to give back to my community and make a difference. One issue that I am particularly concerned about is the scourge of gun violence in New York. Gun violence not only harms and separates individuals from their families, but it also has a detrimental effect on the general well-being and safety of our community. In order to effectively address this issue, I believe it is important to adopt a multifaceted strategy that combines advocacy, education, and assistance for individuals impacted by gun violence. To start, I plan to use my college education to learn as much as I can about the issue of gun violence. This includes studying relevant research and statistics, as well as engaging with experts and community leaders who have firsthand knowledge of the issue. I believe that by educating myself, I can better understand the root causes and consequences of gun violence, which will enable me to identify effective strategies for addressing it. In addition to educating myself, I also plan to volunteer my time and skills to support organizations that are working to reduce gun violence in New York. There are many organizations in our community that is dedicated to educating young people about the dangers of guns, promoting non-violent conflict resolution, and providing support for survivors of gun violence. I believe that by volunteering with these organizations, I can make a meaningful contribution to their efforts and help to create a safer, healthier community for all. Furthermore, I plan to use my voice and my vote to advocate for policy change that will help to reduce gun violence in New York. This might include supporting politicians who are committed to stricter gun control laws or advocating for initiatives that increase funding for programs that work to prevent gun violence. I understand that policy change can be slow and difficult to achieve, but I believe that by using my influence and my platform to advocate for change, I can make a positive impact on the issue of gun violence in our community. There are many ways that individuals and communities can work together to reduce gun violence. Some strategies that have been effective in other communities include investing in programs that provide job training and employment opportunities for at-risk youth, promoting alternatives to violence in schools and neighborhoods, and increasing access to mental health services. By supporting and implementing these types of initiatives, we can create a culture of peace and non-violence in our community. In conclusion, as a first-generation college student and a member of a community that has been disproportionately affected by gun violence, I am committed to using my education to make a positive difference. Through education, advocacy, and support for survivors, I believe we can work together to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in New York and create a safer, healthier community for all.