This July, I expected to only be concerned about the baseball trade deadline and watching the Olympics.

However, I received the terrible news that one of our students whom I used to teach was murdered. He was near his home and was shot and killed by a yet-unknown person.

Unfortunately, where I teach, out of a student body of 130 middle and high school students, every year, we lose 1 to 3 students to murder, violence, suicide, drug overdose or long-term incarceration. I’m heartbroken and sick of it. What I’m about to write I could have written for any number of young people.

Many in the media perpetuate the lie that these young people (particularly children and adolescents of color) are thugs and heartless criminals, often seeming to insinuate that their demise equals good riddance. They forget that they are someone’s son, brother or nephew and that their life matters. Let me tell you about Jamal (not his real name), the young man murdered.

Jamal was 17 years old and beloved by teachers and students. Yes, he was troubled, but he always had a big heart, loved to laugh at silly jokes and volunteered to help around the school. Always with a smile on his face, he came to school and tried his best. Jamal lived in a group home and had no family. He’d have a great big grin on his face when I used to give him a big bear hug when no one was looking (so as not to embarrass him) because I knew no one else did.

I don’t know what happened to cause this shooting. Did he have a long-time beef with someone that ended in murder? Did he look at or say something to the wrong person at the wrong time? Who knows. Did he make some poor life decisions? No doubt he did. Does it really matter? All I know is that he is dead.

Where I teach, we assess students using ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) to help address student risks and, therefore, needs. ACES are common and toxic to children, particularly those in poverty, with lifelong impacts on their neuroendocrine, inflammatory, immune, metabolic and other physiologic systems. The 10 ACES include a history in the household of someone living with mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, incarceration, child sexual abuse and the child feeling threatened or not loved at home, among others.

A score of 4 /10 or more ACEs means that the young person is at high risk for future behavioral issues, mental illness or other life-affecting problems.

Many of our students and young people, especially those in poverty, have an ACES score of 4 or higher. We do our best to problem-solve and support children and families, as do many organizations and school systems around the country. Obviously, sometimes that is not enough.

I know that many of you reading this go out of your way for other people, but I ask that you take one more action for Jamal and other young people, particularly those of color. Please, if you are not already doing so, act within your power to advance children’s physical health, mental health and well-being.

Here are some suggestions for ways you can take action: Write a legislator demanding laws supporting families and children, volunteer with or give to a child or family-centered organization, tutor or mentor a young person, administer an ACES survey if you are in a position to do so or ask a teacher, mental health specialist, nurse, physician or social services professional what you can do to help children and families at risk.

In Jamal’s memory, thank you so much for everything you do and for your kindness.

Peter La Count (peterlc1983@gmail.com) is a teacher in a public school in Howard County.