Druken2008-01-20 15:49:56
This morning, I woke up engaged immediately in the activities that go along with moving back on campus. My books are all piled neatly into the tote I carry them with, my clothes are prepared to be moved, and my laptop was to be the last to go when I decided to check my campus email.
No one should ever have to read this subject line-
"We are saddened by the death of a student."
My heart plummets every time. Our university is a small one, so the chances of me knowing each and every one of the people involved are pretty high. I paused to let my breath catch up to the lurching feeling in my guts before I continued on.
Of course I knew her. She was a promising girl with an immeasurable amount of musical talent. Her lust for the arts was part of my inspiration for pursuing a double major in English and Voice. The vehicle she was riding in was struck at an intersection by a pick-up whose hurtling speed kept it from safely avoiding the collision. I don't blame the driver, though- crashes happen in Winter.
I'm still a little shocked. If anyone has any comforting words of wisdom or helpful hints about coping with loss, I'd be happy to hear them. It isn't the first college friend I've lost, but I'd be heartless to say that it can get any easier.
No one should ever have to read this subject line-
"We are saddened by the death of a student."
My heart plummets every time. Our university is a small one, so the chances of me knowing each and every one of the people involved are pretty high. I paused to let my breath catch up to the lurching feeling in my guts before I continued on.
Of course I knew her. She was a promising girl with an immeasurable amount of musical talent. Her lust for the arts was part of my inspiration for pursuing a double major in English and Voice. The vehicle she was riding in was struck at an intersection by a pick-up whose hurtling speed kept it from safely avoiding the collision. I don't blame the driver, though- crashes happen in Winter.
I'm still a little shocked. If anyone has any comforting words of wisdom or helpful hints about coping with loss, I'd be happy to hear them. It isn't the first college friend I've lost, but I'd be heartless to say that it can get any easier.
Unknown2008-01-20 16:04:52
Man, I'm sorry.. It just seems 90% of the population forgets how to drive when there's snow on the ground.
Everiine2008-01-20 20:05:04
Say the word "snow" in Columbus OH and absolutely everyone gets in their car and gets on the road. Only then do the panic as they realize that they have no idea how to drive in snow...
From the sound of the email, if the pickup was going at "hurtling speed", then it is the driver's fault. You need to drive slowly, not hurtlingly in the snow to avoid collisions. Sounds like the driver was driving completely irresponsibly.
We lost a student here last semester too-- she was a very bright, promising student too. She died when her boyfriend decided to take her life followed by his own. I completely skipped the grief state and entered the rage state-- I didn't even know the girl very well, but hearing how she died angered me to the core.
The only words of wisdom I can offer is that remember you're not alone. Other people are feeling exactly the same way you are about the same situation. You can band together to comfort each other. A great quote I learned in high school (though I can't remember the person who said it) goes:
"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another".
From the sound of the email, if the pickup was going at "hurtling speed", then it is the driver's fault. You need to drive slowly, not hurtlingly in the snow to avoid collisions. Sounds like the driver was driving completely irresponsibly.
We lost a student here last semester too-- she was a very bright, promising student too. She died when her boyfriend decided to take her life followed by his own. I completely skipped the grief state and entered the rage state-- I didn't even know the girl very well, but hearing how she died angered me to the core.
The only words of wisdom I can offer is that remember you're not alone. Other people are feeling exactly the same way you are about the same situation. You can band together to comfort each other. A great quote I learned in high school (though I can't remember the person who said it) goes:
"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another".
Druken2008-01-21 01:57:16
Thank you both.
Diamondais2008-01-21 02:05:21
QUOTE(Druken @ Jan 20 2008, 10:49 AM) 478776
I'm still a little shocked. If anyone has any comforting words of wisdom or helpful hints about coping with loss, I'd be happy to hear them. It isn't the first college friend I've lost, but I'd be heartless to say that it can get any easier.
Take your time to grieve but remember the best way to honour the dead is to live for the future, keeping a healthy memory at your side.
