There are a lot of reasons, actually, but the main one is…

Teenagers. Their passion. Their emotion. Their drive. Their ambition.

That period of my life stands out to me more than any other. I write about the teenager I was—and the ones I wish I could have been. The ones I admire most.

Like the survivors of the Parkland school shooting.

It’s no secret I lean left. That doesn’t mean I don’t have mixed feelings about some political issues. But one thing I have never wavered on is my stance on gun control.

The current gun laws in this country infuriate me. Arguments against common sense gun legislation make me want to explode. I don’t think I’ve written about it here because I’m not sure what I can add to the conversation and I’m not sure what good it would do.

But that’s not stopping the teenage survivors of the Parkland school shootings. They’re speaking up. They’re speaking out. They’re organizing. They’re being the change they want to see in the world.

Reading about these children (because they are still children) is bringing tears to my eyes. For the first time I have some hope that the US can actually change its ways with regards to our gun-worshipping culture.

That hope stems directly from these kids.

Teenagers can and will change the world. Is it any wonder they’re the ones I want in my stories?

If you’re looking for some way to help, head to https://everytown.org. Or you can follow #MarchForOurLives and #NeverAgain on Twitter and support those speaking out in any way you can.