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Little rural schools like Pawnee Heights are often virtually invisible to most of the world. Passing strangers drive right by the tiny town of Rozel, never realizing that Pawnee is the center of community life for the people of the surrounding area.
Everyone for miles around supports the 77 students who make up Pawnee's student body. People attend games, coach teams, raise funds, chaperone field trips, organize proms, cook meals, sew costumes, drive vans and paint signs.
And on Wednesday, 750 of them showed up at the school to say goodbye to 17-year-old Amber Schmitt, who died in a car crash Sunday morning.
It's hard enough for adults to prepare for the death of a teenager, but for kids, the concept is pretty near impossible.
Amber's friends, the girls of Pawnee's senior class, are making a valiant effort to come to terms with her death. The kids are sticking close together, still dazed, but doing a good job of holding one another up.
Remembering their girl
The day after the funeral, the girls draped themselves over a circle of desks in a Pawnee Heights classroom and talked about Amber. At first, the kids struggled for words, but they relaxed as soon as Amber's uncle, David Skinner, pulled up a desk and joined the group. They have come to rely on his steady presence, and Skinner has not let the girls down. Although his own grief was palpable, Skinner got the ball rolling by recounting some stories about Amber that made everyone laugh.
"Amber was always giving me a piece of her mind. Even as a baby, she had that personality," said Skinner. "She was a fearless, happy, ornery baby, and she grew into a fearless and happy teenager. She was a delight and she was unique, and she's still making me laugh."
Almost immediately, the kids chimed in with story after story about their lost friend. As they explained Amber's humorous approach to life, they began to laugh freely — and then their memories tumbled out. Amber's presence so filled the classroom that it was as if she had just stepped out for a moment, and would be right back.
Soon, a picture emerged of a humorous, compassionate, opinionated, adolescent who jumped into life with both feet, and spoke her mind at the drop of a hat.
Everyone's invited
"Amber included everyone. Some of us were in little cliques, but Amber had no time for that," said Tali Whipple. "She just sort of stepped right over any divisions as if they weren't there, and insisted that everyone be included in everything."
Kristen Phillips said that she'll never forget the first time she met Amber.
"I was new here, and I didn't know anyone," said Kristen. "I had just become the manager of the volleyball team and I really had no clue what to do. And I was standing there, just feeling alone and Amber said, 'Oh, just wing it! We'll love you no matter what!' From that moment on, I knew I had a friend."
Allie Blakely said that Amber was always ready to teach everyone how to do the things she herself loved most.
"She didn't so much invite me to learn to ride a horse as order me to learn. She couldn't stand my missing out on it - she wanted me to have it too, so she made me learn," said Allie. "She wouldn't let me quit, either. And Amber was right, I did love it."
Kristen said that Amber was the reason that she passed algebra.
"I just wanted to give up, and she refused to let me," Kristen said. "Amber was a tough teacher, I can tell you that. And because of her, I passed."
Life's too short to waste - ride hard
The most important thing the girls have learned since they lost their friend is that all the little things that used to bother them don't count for anything in this life.
"Don't waste time bickering with people. Forgive everybody. Treasure your friends and family. Life's too short for anything else," said Brianna Hoffman, and everyone solemnly agreed.
The last time Kristen saw Amber, Kristen was getting ready to take her horse to a rodeo. Amber looked at Kristen and smiled.
"Ride hard," she said.
Those were the last words Amber spoke to her friend.
Kristen plans to follow that advice for the rest of her life.
Reach Claire O'Brien at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at claire.obrien@dodgeglobe.com.
Little rural schools like Pawnee Heights are often virtually invisible to most of the world. Passing strangers drive right by the tiny town of Rozel, never realizing that Pawnee is the center of community life for the people of the surrounding area.
Everyone for miles around supports the 77 students who make up Pawnee's student body. People attend games, coach teams, raise funds, chaperone field trips, organize proms, cook meals, sew costumes, drive vans and paint signs.
And on Wednesday, 750 of them showed up at the school to say goodbye to 17-year-old Amber Schmitt, who died in a car crash Sunday morning.
It's hard enough for adults to prepare for the death of a teenager, but for kids, the concept is pretty near impossible.
Amber's friends, the girls of Pawnee's senior class, are making a valiant effort to come to terms with her death. The kids are sticking close together, still dazed, but doing a good job of holding one another up.
Remembering their girl
The day after the funeral, the girls draped themselves over a circle of desks in a Pawnee Heights classroom and talked about Amber. At first, the kids struggled for words, but they relaxed as soon as Amber's uncle, David Skinner, pulled up a desk and joined the group. They have come to rely on his steady presence, and Skinner has not let the girls down. Although his own grief was palpable, Skinner got the ball rolling by recounting some stories about Amber that made everyone laugh.
"Amber was always giving me a piece of her mind. Even as a baby, she had that personality," said Skinner. "She was a fearless, happy, ornery baby, and she grew into a fearless and happy teenager. She was a delight and she was unique, and she's still making me laugh."
Almost immediately, the kids chimed in with story after story about their lost friend. As they explained Amber's humorous approach to life, they began to laugh freely — and then their memories tumbled out. Amber's presence so filled the classroom that it was as if she had just stepped out for a moment, and would be right back.
Soon, a picture emerged of a humorous, compassionate, opinionated, adolescent who jumped into life with both feet, and spoke her mind at the drop of a hat.
Everyone's invited
"Amber included everyone. Some of us were in little cliques, but Amber had no time for that," said Tali Whipple. "She just sort of stepped right over any divisions as if they weren't there, and insisted that everyone be included in everything."
Kristen Phillips said that she'll never forget the first time she met Amber.
"I was new here, and I didn't know anyone," said Kristen. "I had just become the manager of the volleyball team and I really had no clue what to do. And I was standing there, just feeling alone and Amber said, 'Oh, just wing it! We'll love you no matter what!' From that moment on, I knew I had a friend."
Allie Blakely said that Amber was always ready to teach everyone how to do the things she herself loved most.
"She didn't so much invite me to learn to ride a horse as order me to learn. She couldn't stand my missing out on it - she wanted me to have it too, so she made me learn," said Allie. "She wouldn't let me quit, either. And Amber was right, I did love it."
Kristen said that Amber was the reason that she passed algebra.
"I just wanted to give up, and she refused to let me," Kristen said. "Amber was a tough teacher, I can tell you that. And because of her, I passed."
Life's too short to waste - ride hard
The most important thing the girls have learned since they lost their friend is that all the little things that used to bother them don't count for anything in this life.
"Don't waste time bickering with people. Forgive everybody. Treasure your friends and family. Life's too short for anything else," said Brianna Hoffman, and everyone solemnly agreed.
The last time Kristen saw Amber, Kristen was getting ready to take her horse to a rodeo. Amber looked at Kristen and smiled.
"Ride hard," she said.
Those were the last words Amber spoke to her friend.
Kristen plans to follow that advice for the rest of her life.
Reach Claire O'Brien at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at claire.obrien@dodgeglobe.com.
