Prom. World War III. Graduation. As the end of the school year nears, our high school minds should be filled with thoughts of long-awaited, stereotypical high school events; instead, our lives have been interrupted by international tension and concerns for our own safety. War, which once felt distant and abstract, now feels immediate, raising a central question: how is war and global tension already shaping the lives of students here at home?

On Feb. 28, U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated missile strikes on multiple Iranian cities, including the capital and largest city, Tehran. This act of war demonstrates an escalation of decades of tension between the U.S. and Iran. One attack struck an elementary school in Iran’s Hormozgan Province, explained as a U.S. mapping error, and killed over 100 students. Government actions on both sides of the conflict demonstrate that youth are not protected; our peers are dying and we could be the next byproducts of international tension. Accordingly, recent polling shows young adults display higher levels of resistance and opposition toward the current fighting in Iran, with only 21% backing foreign attacks. However, opposition toward the war is not limited to the younger populations. In fact, a majority of Americans show disdain toward the handling and overall involvement of the United States in this latest bout of violence. Even so, vast public opposition toward recent military actions has not swayed President Donald Trump or the Department of Defense. This disconnect between public opinion and government action contributes to a growing sense of powerlessness among young people.

Feb. 27, a day before the initial February attacks, the Trump administration displayed frustrations after failed nuclear negotiations. Since these attacks, classified as Operation Epic Fury, Trump has laid out a variety of reasons for the attack, from nuclear capabilities to the need for regime change in the region, all of which he has claimed to have resolved, despite continuing to deploy troops to the region. 

Societal Consequences

In response to these widespread attacks on their country, the Iranian military and its allies have struck back against multiple U.S. military bases across the Middle Eastern region. At the same time, the United States and Israel have not backed down, continuing to launch attacks on Iran. As of March 31, there have been over 3300 casualties across the region, 13 of those being American service members, and, as of March 23, over 300 casualties are children. In this alarming period of global conflict, the Trump administration has provided conflicting and misleading statements that are perpetuating fear and confusion in American citizens. On March 9, Trump stated that ‘the war is very complete,’ but a week later, on March 16, Trump commented before reporters at Air Force One, ‘Maybe we shouldn’t even be there.’ The uncertainty and lack of transparency from those in charge of the war leave the general American public anxious about the future of international order. 

Young people are becoming especially fearful as rumors of a return to a 1960s-era military draft have begun to circulate via social media. While required enrollment in the United States Armed Forces in 2026 is unlikely, the Trump administration, however, has said, ‘no option has been ruled out.’ This means seniors at West High — like thousands of 18-year-olds around the country — must consider the possibility that their immediate plans for graduation, college or careers could be interrupted by military service. 

From the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine to the continuously unfolding war in the Middle East between Iran and the United States and their Israeli allies, violence comparable to that of World War I and World War II feels more real than ever. In fact, some say we are closer than ever to — or even already in the early stages of — another massive global conflict that could scar society for years to come. For students, this growing instability transforms world news into something personal.

Campus connections

The current challenges associated with military service coincide with English teacher Daniel Barnes’ AP English Language and Composition class’s annual analysis of “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. The novel is a fictional account of soldiers in their late teens to early twenties as they fight in the Vietnam War. By analyzing and discussing the book, students are meant to gain a deep understanding of war and the mental, emotional and physical toll on young service members. Today’s global tensions reflect the journeys depicted by O’Brien, tying fictional literature to real-life fear and widespread uncertainty. 

“For a lot of people here at Parkway West, the concept of war is so incomprehensible to students. We’re [currently] sending 2000 human beings over [to the Middle East]. Soldiers are not just a concept. They’re people,” Barnes said. “The whole reason I teach this book is to teach humanity and to have the students be able to empathize with soldiers and envision themselves in that position. It gets [really] scary when you hear those in charge discussing implementing the draft and knowing that those who would get drafted would look like my students and not look like my peers.”  

While there is currently no indication of fighting expanding to U.S. soil, Americans are already seeing societal consequences due to tensions abroad. Because Iran, officially named the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a primarily Muslim country, Islamic individuals in St. Louis and throughout the U.S. are experiencing discrimination and Islamophobia. 

Local prejudice

In early March, a local church displayed a message labeling Islam a “demonic religion.” The St. Louis community quickly denounced Life Church St. Louis’ problematic stance, distancing themselves from the local church’s extremist beliefs. The community’s disapproval led to the removal of the sign and the cancellation of church services the following week. Still, Islamophobia and discrimination, which have already been an experience common to Muslims, continue to persist in the face of the war abroad. At West High, there are many ethnic and religious affinity clubs, including the Muslim Student Association, to support its diverse student body. Junior Aminah Hilaly practices Islam and is a member of the club. 

“I have faced [Islamophobia] from time to time, and it does take a toll on me because people don’t understand where [I’m] coming from. [Since the start of the war,] it’s gotten worse as things have happened [overseas], especially with the [church] sign. It does [scare me] because it’s somewhere that’s really close to home. A lot of the time, [violence] happens in our world, and the whole community [is blamed for it]. If something happens within the Muslim community, it’s not [every Muslim’s] fault. [Young people] get blamed for a lot of the things that have happened [before they were born]. [I hope people] actually realize that we are human at the end of the day and not just [names we are called] like ‘demonic,’” Hilaly said. 

Exaggerating with the intent of causing fear and or the possibility for disaster, such as foreign nuclear attacks from Iran or deeming certain groups ‘terrorist groups’ is a tactic known as fear-mongering. This is not a new concept to the American people, and especially not to Muslim students. Fear-mongering often impacts societal attitudes toward certain groups of people, fueling discrimination. However, it can also promote nationalism and military service. In 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, nearly 200,000 Americans enlisted in the armed forces, showing an increased level of patriotism. At the same time, President George W. Bush, as Commander-in-Chief, saw a massive spike in his approval rating. On the contrary, persistent U.S. involvement in Iran has caused a sharp decline in support for Trump. Even many members of Trump’s Republican Party are not in favor of his recent military actions. Unlike the events of Pearl Harbor or 9/11, the Iranian war was started by a U.S. attack. Many Americans fail to see the U.S. Military’s justification for launching a foreign conflict, rather than protecting the American people by responding to a domestic attack.

Changes in service

Instead of inspiring military enrollment, these conflicts have created complications for recruits. Members of the younger generation who were planning to enroll in the armed forces before these conflicts are experiencing delays in the process. After the U.S Army’s recruiting successes in 2025, recent deployments directed by Trump and other changes in foreign affairs have shifted military priorities in several ways, including the pressure to train recruits faster.  

“I was planning to sign my papers before spring break, but because of how the war has evolved, the training process has changed. I won’t be signing my papers until [around] June [or] July [because], with the need of people [currently], the military is trying to force people into training earlier and accept earlier times rather than later times, when I’m trying to go for a later time. [I will be] going to Georgia, I’ll do my basic training and then [I will have] another 16 weeks that I’ll train [for] infantry. They would want me to start earlier, but I’m going to wait so that way I can [finish high school],” senior Alexander Lewinski said. 

Further, the U.S. military’s questionable actions in the Iranian conflict are creating a reluctance to serve in the military. Amid growing political polarization, many young people are unwilling to place themselves under leadership whose actions and principles they do not believe in. 

“Everyone has their own political beliefs and the polarization of political parties definitely has caused more of a divide between people [thus] affecting people wanting to serve,” Lewinski said.

Conclusion

As the war in Iran heads into its fifth week of the initial four-five week timeline given by Trump on March 1, the future of the world still hangs in the air. Students at West High and in Iran alike see the chance for global unity being overshadowed by the possibility of violence and mass destruction. 

“War is [not something] that anybody wants to happen, but it’s [become] an inevitable part of life. Its displacement and having to uproot your entire life and move somewhere to avoid conflict [impacts the younger generation]. Even people [who] aren’t aren’t involved directly in conflict [are impacted]. They see economic changes, for example, increasing gas prices [and other changes in] amenities. Immigration and asylum seeking [also] impacts their own communities,” Lewinski said.