On Feb. 5, McLean High School had the second lockdown drill of the year. With the increasing number of school shootings around the United States, the lockdown drill was more important than ever to ensure the safety of staff and students.

“When the drill was announced, my teacher turned the lights off and we got under the desks, making sure to stay quiet,” senior Marina Lopez said. “It was very easy and orderly.”

Students in different classrooms have varying experiences, with some students feeling safer than others in their classrooms.

“I was in the art classroom, so if there were to be a real incident, I would feel pretty safe,” senior Zoe Adams-Christian said. “The classroom has a dark room in the back with an exit which is where we would be if there were to be an intruder.”

In the majority of classes, students ducked under their desks, creating a feeling of unrest amongst students as they imagined a scenario where an intruder enters.

“I don’t think sitting under the desks is the best way to go about a lockdown drill, since it is pretty obvious,” Lopez said. “But there really is no other way to hide twenty or thirty students.”

Teachers ushered wandering students into their classrooms to shelter them, mimicking the procedure in a real incident.

“As soon as I heard the lockdown drill assignment, I looked outside my classroom to make sure no student was left behind in the hallway,” Math teacher Steven Walker said.

While some look mockingly upon lockdown drills, it is crucial to stay prepared considering the increasing news presence occupied by school shootings.

“It’s important for every student and staff member to know the procedure,” Adams-Christian said. “Hopefully this will never become a reality, but you can never be too prepared.”