On May 7, 2019, Ellie Wyse was a high school freshman with an hour left in her day when a routine drill turned into an active shooter situation.
In this powerful and essential conversation, Ellie bravely recounts her experience surviving the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting and the complex realization that one of the perpetrators was a peer. She shares the aftermath of the trauma, the unexpected loneliness of the subsequent COVID-19 lockdown (which she says was harder to process than the shooting itself), and her path to healing through EMDR therapy.
Now a psychology major, Ellie is turning her survival story into purpose, aiming to become a counselor to fill the critical mental health gap for teenagers affected by violence.
Key Takeaways from the Conversation:
When a Drill Isn't a Drill: Ellie describes the chilling moment she realized the prolonged lockdown was real and how the fear was compounded by snipers surrounding the building.
The Second Trauma: Ellie explains why the COVID-19 lockdown was worse than the shooting trauma—it was a two-year period of unknown, isolation, and the destruction of the progress she had made with her anxiety and depression.
Healing with EMDR: Ellie gives the clearest explanation of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy—how it moves a traumatic memory from the emotional brain (amygdala) to the long-term memory (hippocampus), making it manageable.
Guns vs. Mental Health: We discuss the importance of mental health intervention, especially when concerning signs are reported, and the responsibility to treat—not stigmatize—mental health issues seriously.
Redemption Through Purpose: Ellie shares why she views her trauma as a gift that has given her direction and passion, allowing her to serve as a voice of hope for others.
📌 Episode Guide
00:00 -Intro
17:30 - Early Life & Faith
21:10 -The Day of the Shooting
26:00 -Finding Out Who the Shooter Was
30:45 -The Mental Health Intervention Debate
33:50 -The Immediate Aftermath
38:20 -Therapy & the Golden Retriever
39:35 -The Non-Linear Healing Process
45:30 -Finding Her Calling
47:00 -The Trauma of COVID-19 Lockdown
🎧 Listen to the full episode now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Or wherever you get your podcasts
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