No items found.
Written by: Bella Rallis
February 13th. Shots have been fired. Get inside. Shelter in place. Turn off your lights, lock and barricade your door, hide under your desk, and ignore all knocks. You’ll be here for a while. Your friend watched someone get shot. A student in your class lost a loved one. You are traumatized by the falsified safety your school once had. Some people won’t live to see the next day. The place we call home now has a bitter taste in the air.
February 14th. I have never experienced a more painful and hollow Valentines. The worst feeling I was expecting was loneliness, but that was quickly turned to loss, pain, guilt, sorrow, tears… so many tears... and I know so many others can also relate. The day of love felt so full of darkness.
I am still in disbelief. Never would I expect our home to be endangered so violently. To be threatened of safety and question my own life. To have so much fear instilled within a university of thousands. A feeling no individual should ever experience. In an educational setting where students are attending to learn, grow, thrive… they should not have to weigh endangering their life in the picture. They should not have to question the chance of not waking up the next morning.
I feel for Brian, Arielle, and Alexandria and those who held them dear to their heart. It is the painful truth that these beautiful souls were stripped of their future. I feel for the 5 individuals fighting for their lives to this day. My heart aches for the families that will never hear another “I love you” or even “I’m okay.” My heart aches that a gun and a beyond evil conscience altered the trajectory of these individuals lives in the most brutal and hateful manner. They did not deserve this. No one did.
My parents keep asking if I’m okay. I keep managing to muster up the strength to say those two words. Words that are hollow now. I feel the need to put on a front, protect them, ease their minds for a brief second. Because I know 3 other parents will never be able to hear those reassuring words. 3 parents are stripped from hearing the voices of their loving children. That hurts my heart.
But in reality; I am not okay. How can I be okay?
Through this moment of darkness, light has been brought upon the beloved home of so many. Spartans are unifying. Spartans are coming together in remembrance of Brian, Arielle, and Alexandria and the 5 individuals fighting for their lives. Spartans are choosing to fight for humanity.
There have been so many small acts of love and kindness. The hundreds of Sparrow Hospital employees who flocked to the hospital during off-shift moments to take care of affected Spartans. The Canines for Change therapy dogs who offered comfort and support in only ways furry friends can. The multiple vigils that were held to mourn and honor those lost, those who are fighting for their lives, and the spartan community. The Spartan Sunday event where love and joy filled the air along the Red Cedar as thousands of locals brought their own fluffy friends, snacks, and mom hugs to put our Spartans at ease. The support at sporting events, social media, and even by form of sky message from our rival schools and around the nation. The community 8km race organized around campus with all proceeds going to the mourning families of the 8 victims. Approaching 1 million dollars donated from around the world raised to help the 5 students in critical condition have a second shot at life.
Just within a week after this tragedy, a novel could be filled with all the beautiful acts from not only the Spartan community, but the nation. These subtle choices of care are the essence of what the month of love came to be - what it means to be a Spartan. Beauty can still be found in the darkness.
February 27th. A day we still continue to mourn. A day we still continue to heal. A day we still feel the drastic alteration of our lives from the tragedy that occurred just over a week ago. But also; a day we feel closer than ever. A day we continue to grow stronger as a community. Another day where love overpowers hate.
While Michigan State endured an act which was full of pain and anger, the community decided to care for one another. Hold one another. We decided to take an act of hate, and alter it with a response full of love. And for that, we are, and will always be #SpartanStrong.
