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Brandon & Declan - #DearNewtown

Episode 04 / Sandy Hook / Dear World

Brandon & Declan

On faith, a coin flip and feeling included

Salt Lake City, Utah · Both 17

We move through every day being thankful to be a seventeen-year-old, knowing we could have lost our lives at six years old.

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About This Story

Episode 04

Brandon and Declan bring together intellect, faith, humor, and service. Their episode keeps circling back to the same idea: healing is easier when you feel held by other people.

Whether they are talking about church, statistics, family support, or a future in criminology, both of them return to compassion as the thing that keeps a life open.

The Participants

Brandon & Declan

Participant

Brandon

Age 17

Brandon loves learning about other people, cultures, and ethnicities, and sees that curiosity as part of a brighter future.

Guilty pleasure
Building scale models like tanks.
Perfect day
Going to his favorite Vietnamese restaurant with family or neighbors.
Power
He feels powerful after solving hard academic problems and entering a task knowing he is in full control.
Future
He is interested in forensics or criminology.

We have to educate the next generation to all be together. Racism and prejudice are taught and learned.

Participant

Declan

Age 17

Declan is known for finding a positive outlook and carrying joy and humor with the people around him.

Community
He is often with his crew, youth groups, and church events.
Fears
Losing people he cares about and being hurt by the people he loves.
Healing
Faith in God helps him find joy and peace even while PTSD symptoms remain present.
Future
He hopes to make an impact in people's lives.

Love each other. We are all children of God. We are all equal. Be kind and love each other.

Watch The Series

Episode Films

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Story Moments

Visual Story

Brandon and Declan in studio

Brandon says this experience pushed him out of his shell and made him think more seriously about helping other people.

Still from Brandon and Declan's episode

Declan still struggles with PTSD symptoms, but faith gives him a sense of solace, gratitude, and a larger plan.

Scene from Brandon and Declan's conversation

Together they argue for a future built on education, empathy, and a refusal to let prejudice define what comes next.

What They Want To Say

Voices From The Episode

Brandon

To Other Survivors

I want to give you the sense that you are not alone. We both went through something, and can be here for each other.

Brandon

Declan

To The World

Love each other. I see so much division in our world and in our country. Politics and social media are just arguments and screaming ideologies.

Declan

He closes by insisting that kindness and equality are still possible.

Looking Ahead

What Does The Future Hold?

Declan

Declan is excited to see what the future holds and hopes to keep making an impact in people's lives.

Brandon

Brandon is looking toward forensics or criminology as a way to pair curiosity with service.

Learn More

Resources

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