After the horrible tragedy that took place on Virginia Tech’s campus early Monday morning, I wondered how VT would ever recover. Nearly everyone in Blacksburg, including myself, knows someone affected by the day’s events. The calm, safe environment this town and university has provided for so many was shattered in a matter of hours by one selfish individual.
What was not shattered Monday became evident yesterday at the Convocation and the Candlelight Vigil. The unity, love, compassion, and pride this university has. For many Hokies, they had seen more of campus through their television than with their own eyes over the last 2 days. Once everyone was able to come together, on campus, all doubts as to the future of this university and town were extinguished in my mind.
The Candlelight Vigil was an awe inspiring event in remembrance of those taken from our campus. But it served as so much more than that. Realizing that everyone else is going through the same emotions of shock, anger, and hurt is comforting in an odd sort of way. I even found myself laughing when some of the candles caught fire to their wind-protecting paper cups. Afterwards, two VT alumni and local Blacksburg residents offered to buy my friends and I Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. This is truly a wonderful town and university, that I am very proud to be a part of.