Local reporter Joylyn Bukovac of NBC affiliate WSMV in Nashville found herself in a familiar, yet tragic, situation on Monday when a former student opened fire at The Covenant School, killing six people. Bukovac, who was reporting on the shooting, revealed that she herself had experienced a school shooting when she was just 13 years old.

Bukovac attended Discovery Middle School in Madison, Alabama, and was present in the hallway when a gunman opened fire, fatally shooting one of her classmates. She recalled hiding under choir risers in her music classroom, trying to contact her mother while her phone was taken away and turned off. She empathized with the families affected by the Nashville shooting, knowing firsthand the shock and fear that come with such a tragedy.

Bukovac offered advice to parents whose children were affected by the shooting, urging them to be gentle and open up lines of communication. She acknowledged that not everyone may be ready to talk about what happened right away, but letting them know that they have support is crucial. She also expressed her hopes for change in the wake of yet another devastating school shooting.

Bukovac's story is a powerful reminder that gun violence in schools is not a new issue and that it continues to affect countless individuals and families. It is crucial that we not only offer support and empathy to those affected by these tragedies but also work towards solutions that will prevent them from happening in the future.