Tragedy so close to home

"A man opened fire in a crowded lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, killing four people and wounding a number of others before killing himself, media reports and authorities said"


This is not any other piece of everyday news. It is about my school, my home for the last few years. The place that made me an independent confident person. I have attended lectures and taken exams in the very same Cole Hall were the shooting took place. Seeing picture after of picture of my school plastered across news sites brought sadness and grief. Hurrying to catch the huskie line bus to get to a class, rushing to get there on time in the cold all bundeled up, is it supposed to cross ones mind that you might get shot. My thoughts are with the families of the kids who are dead today for no reason at all, just a random act of an unreasonable sick mind. My heart goes out to their roommates and friends who will never see them again. And my prayers to all who have to go back to school eventually, what would that first class be like, will they be able to pay attention or would they be constantly looking over their shoulder. What is it like to be in constant fear.

My first thought when I read about it was about my friends, my proteges. I met them at different stages in school. Some through the Peer mentor program, some randomly. I took great pride in being their mentor. Helping them know my school better, encouraging and motivating them to do good right from the beginning. Thank you God for keeping them all safe.

Inspite of this terrible tragedy I hope the students do not get consumed by fear. Fear is the most negative of emotions. We are living in times when fear seems to be the foremost of emotions. May this tragedy bring them closer to each other, bring kindness into their hearts and love for life with death being so unpredictable.

Here is a one of my favorite songs