In light of the shocking school-shooting in Minneapolis, where two children were killed and 17 others wounded, including 14 students, the urgency of stories of resilience and hope has never been greater.
That’s precisely the vantage from which Ellie Wyse speaks. On May 7, 2019, while still a freshman in high school, Ellie survived a shooting at her school in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. In that attack, a classmate lost his life and several students were injured — trauma that reshaped her young life.
Now a senior psychology major at Cedarville University in Ohio, Ellie is bravely sharing how she navigated the aftermath of lockdowns, anxiety and depression exacerbated by the pandemic, and the painful realization that the shooter was someone she knew. Through biblical counselling, her church community, and the supportive environment at Cedarville, she found not just survival—but renewed purpose.
Ellie’s ambition? To become a trauma-and-grief counselor for teens and children so she can listen first, lead with empathy, and gently guide others toward healing, forgiveness and hope.