SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The local community in Santa Clarita has come together to support Saugus High School students returning to campus this week.

For Ayden Zhuang, a junior at nearby Hart High School, he is showing his support through an online petition on change.org. In it, he calls on the Hart School District to make changes to each of its 10 campuses requesting more mental health personnel and increased law enforcement presence.

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“When we heard about Stoneman Douglas, Sandy Hook, we thought okay, at least it’s not happening here," Zhuang said.  "But then it happened here and we all had to go through it. So, when I got home I felt like I had to do something to make some change.”

In the last several weeks, the petition has garnered almost 25,000 signatures from people across the country.

“When I made this petition, I did not expect the outpouring of support. I expected maybe 100 or so at best, but people reposted and it spread like wildfire,” Zhuang said.

His goal is that what Saugus students are going through as they return back to school, in the wake of a deadly school shooting, won't ever be felt again.

As the community begins to heal, he is hopeful that they will continue to stand together and push for positive change.  

“If no one is going to do something about it, someone has to do something about it. We’re comfortable doing it because we feel like we should have a voice and our voice should be heard,” said Zhuang.