By Walker Post
Victor Gonzalez, Div. 459, stood on top of a concrete trash can by Lane’s flagpole on Oct. 11 ready to start his speech. It was a beautiful fall day. The leaves began to fall off the trees and dance their way to the ground. It was still warm and the air felt still. His knees buckled, but his speech was about to begin so he calmed his nerves. Students looked at Gonzalez anxiously waiting for him to begin speaking. Gonzalez was leading a mass prayer for injured athlete Drew Williams, Div. 469.
Gonzalez has been a friend of Drew’s since his sophomore year. On Monday, Oct. 7 he began discussing this event for Drew with fellow classmates. For a couple days it was put off, but Gonzalez tweeted about the event, which led to 42 retweets and between 200 to 300 people showing up for the prayer.
Drew’s condition improved that day. He was able to successfully breathe on his own without a ventilator. This news spread rapidly throughout Lane, and Gonzalez believes this is no coincidence. He has confidence that Drew will get better, but his peers must have faith and pray for him.
Maddie Lord, Div. 471, is the captain of the cheerleading team and one of Drew’s closest friends. She attended the prayer and was blown away by the impact it had on her.
“I’m not religious, but I think that that prayer and all of those people being there did help,” Lord said. “I do believe that Drew is feeling all of the positive energy being sent to him.”
Gonzalez had spent the night before at his church, Belmont Assembly of God, where he prayed that God would speak through him the next day. This was going to be his first time leading a prayer.
When Gonzalez began his speech it was 7:30 in the morning. A group of 50 people stood around him. He looked over to Door A where he saw countless students waiting to be let inside. Gonzalez took this opportunity to call them over to join in the prayer, but many of the students were hesitant and few came. After more persuading and beckoning dozens of the students came over to the flagpole.
Before long, hundreds of kids had shown up to the prayer. Many of them did not know why so many were gathered, but upon learning the reason most felt compelled to stay.
Gonzalez asked that everyone close their eyes and bow their heads. His nerves quickly turned to confidence as he saw his fellow classmates around him. For the 10 minutes he spoke, students respectively listened.
“We are here to support Drew Williams and when he falls we will go to pick him up on your shoulders, oh Father God,” Gonzalez said.
The message was optimistic, but emotional and many students were not afraid to shed their tears.
“I got the chills and was stunned that Victor was doing such a good job and that all these people were there for [Drew],” Lord said.
A lot of students wore gold in tribute to Drew. His close friends helped create t-shirts that were worn by many at the prayer. Wristbands with Drew’s name on them were sold for $5 to raise money for his medical bills.
“No matter how old we are, I think that we can all come together to support this great cause,” Lord said. “We actually are a family and it’s amazing to see the unity that we have.”
