Eighth-grader Sandra Parks’ essay about senseless gun violence in her home city of Milwaukee and across the United States and the effects it has on children earned her the third position in her school district’s Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest. Two years down the line, she unfortunately and tragically fell victim to the same thing she was campaigning against; gun violence. Parks’ was hit by a stray bullet while watching TV in her home after several shots were fired at a nearby house.