While sitting in class one day, your mind is just beginning to wander. The teacher's voice drones on and suddenly ‑ you hear the signal ‑ three short blasts and a pause, three short blasts and a pause. "That's funny," you think to yourself. "There was no air‑raid drill announced for today."

The teacher is telling your class to file out into the hail and take your positions. Buzzing to themselves, they too are wondering why there is an air‑raid drill.

The sky has been cloudy and overcast all day. It almost appears to be twilight outside. Suddenly, a bright light fills the whole sky, and a tremor shakes the earth. In the hail you can see everyone hunched over, cowering with fear. You realize and so does everyone else that this time it was no joke.

The feeling some of us had during the last air‑raid drill was one of scorn and little concern. "This is just another big joke," some thought. There were those of us who realized the gravity of what could happen if the real thing came along. Those who didn't might be excused as this was our first practice.

Although we may not think an attack of this kind is probable, it is beet to prepare. As young adults, next to take hold of the reins of government, we should begin to accept the responsibilities that come with the privilege.