Random Acts of Sass

These are my people. These are students. They are like I am. They have facebook accounts and cell phones and they wear the flip flops I wear.

(A funeral home worker spoke of the horror. Not only of the horrific gore, but of the constant ringing and vibrating of the dead victims’ cell phones as people desperately tried to reach them.)

They are rabid sportsfans.

(They are in the conference I consider my own.)

They are annoyed at exams. They are stressed about papers.

(It is that time of year.)

They are friends and girlfriends and sisters and sons. They are student reporters, student leaders. They are Resident Assistants.

(Res Life tends to own your soul, you know.)

One of the people killed was an RA. I can only imagine that chain of events. Sitting in your room, at your computer. You hear a noise. You stand, you go to investigate. You know that it’s your responsibility to protect your floor, to keep sanity. And then you’re killed. Doing your job.

(Would I have died for my residents? I don’t know.)

These are my people. They are victims, powerless and broken. They are survivors, strong and proud. They are crying and I am, too. In the face of unspeakable evil and tragedy, I raise my eyes to a God of compassion, love, and adoration. Hokie Maroon and Orange are my colors. My heart bleeds for them.

“This is a tragedy in American history. So for today, forget any and all of your college affiliations. For today, we are all Hokies.”

We are
Virginia Tech.