A couple days ago (April 16th 2007) I was standing in line for lunch when I heard the tragic news. A gunman opened fire in a Virginia Tech dorm and then, two hours later, in a classroom across campus Monday, killing at least 30 people in the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history.

I could believe it. It felt so sureal. I didn't know how to react, and my first thought was to the 4 students here that go to Virginia Tech. How were they holding up? Are they okay? How can I help?

It's hard to know what to say after something like that happens. When I saw my 4 friends here that go there, I really didn't know what to do. I wanted to reach out and comfort them. Tell them that I'm here...and everything will be okay. I wanted to say I knew what they were going through....but I didn't. I was speechless.

For the first time since being over here, I realized how disconnected I was from the States. I'm in my own little world, and it's so weird not knowing whats going on in the states and not being there when things like this happen.

Last night we had a candlelight vigil on Jesus field (yes, thats the name of our field...there's a statue of Jesus with the mountains in the background. It's gorgeous). Anyways, out of 150 students here at CIMBA, I would say that 130 showed up. It was very moving to see that although we are all from different schools, it was like we were Hokie's for the night. A few students shared their thoughts about what was going on and how it has affected them, and it was extremely powerful and emotional. I kept thinking to myself...what if I had been there? It could have been any one of our schools...it just happened to be at V Tech. I couldnt seem to imagine what those students went through that day. The horror, the pain, the confusion. The feeling of going to class in a safe environment...and then everything changing in an instant. Some of those students were probably hungover and wanted to sleep in...but they rolled out of bed at the last minute to make it to class...and never came back. It's terrible to think about.

I know in the future people will ask where I was on April 16th, 2007. Yea, I was in Italy...but that's not what I'll think about. I'll think about where I was mentally...because that's the part that matters. This whole tragedy makes me realize just how blessed I am. I'm lucky to be alive right now. I'm lucky that my family and friends are safe. I don't tell people enough that I love them and that they mean the world to me, and that's something I will always regret. I thank God for the people he has put in my life. The majority of the time it takes a tragedy like this to occur in order for people to truly appreciate what they have. I just pray that although this tragedy occured, people can see the light. The hope, the love, and the blessings that surround each and every one of us.

I think I'm ready to come home and hug the people I care about the most.