Clinton Public School District

Clinton High School student Pace Rundlett’s original play was recently selected by ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence as one of six works to be published and performed at a nationwide reading.

ENOUGH! is an initiative empowering teens to confront gun violence through playwriting. Since 2019, nearly 600 teen writers have submitted plays, and 21 have been selected for publication.

Pace’s submission, entitled “We Didn’t Have to Meet Here,” was selected from 127 submissions from across the country. In addition to having her play published and performed, Pace will also receive $500. 

Pace’s 10-minute play presents four strangers who meet in an unfamiliar place with absolutely nothing in common except for the fact that they're dead. Before they can move on, they need to understand why.

"I've always felt very passionate about the issue of gun violence," Rundlett said. She drew inspiration from the pain that follows a violent gun attack, and the many forms it can be presented in.

The writing process forced Rundlett to confront her fear of gun violence, leading her to realize that she, like many others, had normalized those fears.

“I don't want others to grow up the same," Rundlett said, "always worried about a possible attack.”

Rundlett's achievement takes her passion to a national stage where she will add her voice to the important conversation of ending gun violence.