The Passing of Time
By Shamus Williams
It has almost been a year. One year since my life was completely changed. One year since I sat in a classroom for more than three hours while the deadliest mass shooting in American history took place down the street from me. One year since I sat in that class and posted a story online about how people had been shot and how my classmates were anxious and nervous to get out of the room.
My life has changed a lot since April 16, 2007. Not everything has changed because of that day, but a lot has. Going to class every morning is much harder than it ever was. Every time I hear a siren while I'm sitting in class, I get the chills. I go out of my way to avoid walking near Norris Hall, the site where the most people were killed, and the memorial on the Drillfield, as the thought of that day still gives me trouble.
The thing that has changed the most, though, is the notion of what Virginia Tech means to everyone else. When I used to tell people that I go to Virginia Tech, they would talk about the rural nature of the school. Or the football team. Or the great engineering department. Not anymore.
When I tell people I go to Virginia Tech now (as I did this past weekend visiting law schools), a look of horror comes across their faces. Sometimes, you can tell that they want to ask questions about that day but that they also feel that it isn't appropriate to ask. Other times, they just jump right into it and want me to spill my guts about it. I want to answer their questions, but I really don't like talking about it. Usually, I give a quick answer and hope that they will just stop talking about it.
I would like to think that one day, I can go back to talking about our football team and academics when I discuss my school with people, rather than recall memories of that day.
I hope that one day we will be able to say that something good came of the shootings - that 32 innocent lives were lost but thousands more were changed for the better.
By Amy L. Kovac |
April 11, 2008; 10:10 PM ET
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Shamus Williams
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