“My name is Camille Paradis and I am a board member of the Junior Newtown Action Alliance. On December 14th, 2012 I was eight years old sitting in my third grade classroom. I can only tell my story through flashes of memories. My backpack is light, empty of homework or binders. I'm talking to my friends. The loudspeaker goes on. The assistant teacher looks outside, and quickly locks our door. The classroom next to us slips into our room, and we pile behind the makeshift library. Police are here. My hands are on the shoulders of my friend as we stumble out the side door, walking down to the fire station. My mom is screaming at a reporter trying to shove a microphone in my face. My friend's parents can't get through the crowd, he comes home with us. Days later, I'm sitting on the couch, and parents read off the list of people who I won't see anymore. I didn't understand what that meant, and why I would never enter that building again. For the next couple of years, my paintings were full of scenes from daily life at school, as I tried to depict everything I could remember. My life had changed, in ways I didn't comprehend. At eight years old, I didn't have the language to describe what happened to me and my classmates. Thank you to the adults that advocated for us, and worked to make sure everyone would know our name and story. Thank you to everyone in this room, for fighting for those who can't. “ -Camille Paradis, Survivor of Sand Hook Elementary School Shooting