Looking back on Virginia Tech

It has almost been a week since the Virginia Tech shooting took place, but there is no doubt that its effects are still hitting very hard. However, as I opened my internet page this morning, I noticed that there were no more clips or articles about the shooting. Today's main story features what secrets Alyssa Milano, Sela Ward and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have with "the fellas." Oh how the media never ceases to be pointless in its neverending gossip on celebrities. Maybe this is a good thing, since many people can look at this and get Virginia Tech off of their minds, but I still find it slightly disturbing.

What I also found disturbing was how I even heard about what happened. I've been so caught up in thinking about graduation this past week that I wouldn't have even known about the shooting if a friend of mine hadn't of called me later that evening. I find this somewhat shameful, especially after looking at the faces of those who died on CNN tonight. There were students there who were only 18. I sat down and thought, what was I even doing when I was 18? That was only about four years ago.

As a student this fact hits very hard. College was just beginning at 18, and others didn't even get to finish their first year. I can't help wondering what this person was thinking? Are all people capable of this? Is it the person sitting next to me? How could this have been prevented?

As I left school Friday I saw a flyer for Depression Awareness Week for one of the organizations in downtown Athens, Georgia. During this week, the organization, Nuci's Space, http://www.nuci.org/ hosts various activities, such as live bands playing and marches downtown for those dealing with depression, or anyone who would like to help out. I can't help but think how I helped them with their PR activities during a class project last year, as I learned more about depression and the other mental struggles many college students and individuals everywhere can encounter.

With this, I can't help but wonder if the person who committed this terrible act could have been helped before things got out of hand, before so many innocent lives were lost. This is another reason why I am looking more into the option of Public Health for graduate school, and why health awareness is so important. Nevertheless, I believe this person was not sane, and I still can't help but feel like tragedies like these shouldn't have to happen for us to become aware of the harmful effects of mental illness.