I’m in fifth grade and part of a nice community; I go to school, I have friends, and my parents take care of me. But lately, even with all of that, I feel scared.

I’ve been hearing the news more than I used to. One night, I was sleeping over at a friend’s house when something big happened in Venezuela. In the morning, her dad was talking about whether it could be the start of a war. Then I heard that our country wants to take over Greenland and that other countries were mad at us. I remember brushing my teeth and wondering how places so far away could feel so close.

But mostly, I’ve been hearing about ICE. I know ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Their job is supposed to be about immigration laws. But lately, it doesn’t feel like they’re doing their job the right way. I keep hearing about people being hurt and killed, even people who haven’t broken any laws. That feels wrong. And it’s scary.

I’ve noticed it at school too. Kids have been missing. All kids who aren’t white. They could just be sick, but six kids gone in one week? That feels like a lot. Even if that number doesn’t sound big to adults, it feels huge when it’s the kids you sit next to, the kids you trade snacks with, the kids whose seats are suddenly empty.

I’m scared that fear is becoming normal. And I’m scared that if we’re not careful, fear might be the only thing that kids in my generation know.

Violet Hall, age 11
Saco