High school student reflects on violence.

Students exit the front entrance of Coral Gables Senior High School, located at 450 Bird Road, after school let out at 2:20pm on Wednesday afternoon. Today marks the year anniversary of the stabbing on this campus of student Juan Carlos Rivera. Photo by Brittney Bomnin

When a sophomore stabbed another sophomore at Coral Gables Senior High School a year ago, sadness and worry filled the halls and classrooms at all Miami-Dade County schools.

The tragic Sept. 15 incident left Juan Carlos Rivera dead and Andy Jesus Rodriguez in jail facing a second-degree murder charge. Reportedly, the argument was about a girl.

Although the stabbing took place at Gables High, where many West Grove students attend, teen-on-teen crime happens in and around schools everywhere. And many students are returning to school this year wondering if they will be shot, stabbed or killed.

“I think it could happen in any school from any neighborhood, whether it’s public or private,” said Claudia Anderson, a Gables junior who was at the school when Juan Carlos was killed. “It could happen again. People’s inner emotions and thoughts are uncontrollable.”

Numbed by the stabbing, students took steps to show their sadness as well as their concern about student violence. Dressed in black, they came to the school, 450 Bird Rd.., and placed flowers in the courtyard where Juan Carlos was stabbed.

A month after the stabbing, 530 freshmen signed a school pledge of nonviolence, which ensured that at least they would take a stand against violence in school and the community.

Following the stabbing at Gables High, some students said they were relieved that school administrators reacted quickly to help students cope. With counselors available, students say they were able to recover from the shock and any fear they may have had

“A tip hotline was set up where if we knew of any trouble going on, we could text the hotline and it would be anonymous,” said Sierra Samuels, a Coral Gables junior.

Isabelle Parra, also a junior, said school officials worked hard to set a tone of safety.

“Our administration has been working hard to try to make our school a safer environment,” Isabelle said.

Related Story: A year later: unresolved issues at Coral Gables High School

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The reporter, Martina Miller, is 16 years old and is a junior at Coral Reef Senior High School. She previously attended George Washington Carver Middle School. She wants to become a psychologist and plans to attend the University of Miami or Florida State University.