In recent years, malls, shops, restaurants, concerts and the public places we love and hold dear have become increasingly dangerous. With many new reports of violent incidents and shootings popping up daily, the skill of situational awareness has become more important than ever. So what is situational awareness? It is the ability to perceive, understand and respond to one’s surroundings when faced with danger.

This is a skill that sophomore Mary Hearn used to safely escape the Katy Mills shooting on Dec. 23, 2024. “You could call it a gut feeling, but I could tell something was wrong,” she said. “ And it was proven right when I heard somebody yelling ‘shots.’ I grabbed my friend, and we got out of there as quickly as possible.”

Reflecting on the experience, Mary emphasized how it changed her perspective.

“We’re told constantly that there’s no chance that something like that could happen to you, or there’s no chance that’ll happen when you’re around, [but] there is still a chance,” Hearn said. “I even remember the night before telling my parents that I was going to be fine and that it was highly unlikely something would occur, and then being proven wrong almost immediately afterward. Now, I make it a habit to observe my surroundings, pay attention to the people near me and identify escape routes whenever I’m in public.”

But luckily, a life-saving skill like situational awareness is quite easy to pick up and learn.

“I would say most of the drills that we do in school helped me figure out what we should do in case of certain emergencies, such as when an intruder comes into the school, school shooting, stuff like that,” sophomore Sara Tripathi said. “It has helped me figure out the steps we need to take to keep ourselves safe. And these drills aren’t just helpful in school, they can be useful in other public settings too.”

In a world where public spaces have become increasingly unpredictable, situational awareness is not just a skill but a necessity. Stories like Hearn’s and lessons from students like Tripathi serve as reminders of how vital it is to stay alert and prepared. While we cannot always control the actions of others, we can control how we respond by having awareness, practicing safety measures and learning from drills and real-life experiences. By making situational awareness a part of our daily lives, we can better protect ourselves and those around us and still have fun.