As of right now, there are 4 students dead at Northern Illinois University and at least another 15+ who were injured. A ‘gunman dressed in black” comes into a lecture hall filled with more than 150 students and just starts shooting.
I feel sick to my stomach. I have that thick sensation in the back of my throat…you know the feeling. You want to cry, but you’ve manged to keep control. At least, so far.
I don’t know anyone who goes to NIU. I didn’t know anyone at Virginia Tech. I don’t know any of the kids at any of the other 3 schools where there was a shooting this week.
I do know this. I am a Mom. My heart just breaks into tiny pieces thinking about the grief the families of those hurt or killed are experiencing. Fear clutches deep into my soul when I even consider the panic the parents of the other 25,000+ students at NIU felt this afternoon (or are still feeling as they call unanswered cell phones again and again)
Clearly, schools now have emergency plans that weren’t necessary when I was in school. Teachers are now taught to watch for aggressive behavior, depression, bullying, even ‘idle’ threats, but I just don’t know how it will ever be enough.
And I don’t mean to say schools aren’t doing enough. I mean only that I don’t know how it is possible for anyone, for any University, any High School, any grade school to be perfectly prepared for every contingency.
I know only that I am afraid. I am worried. I am heartsick.
My prayers to the families, friends and loved ones of those involved.
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