569: Thinking of VT.
As a student of the media industry, I've been watching the news more often and diving deep into the stories that interest me. After the Virginia Tech massacre on April 16th, I have been moved by this story. As geographically disconnected I may be from the event, I've still felt some sort of personal community as a result of the event, and an emotional connection from the images and words that have come from this event.
I've watch the news non-stop, downloaded innumerable podcasts of news reports that have almost exclusively covered the tragedy, because I am a student of the media, because I am an Asian-American, and because I am a college student.
I've checked in on Virginia Tech's student newspaper, and every issue that I've seen has evoked deep sympathy. Today was especially moving.
The graphic headline featured this:
"If we don't meet again, your final assignment from me is perhaps the most important lesson you will learn in life. Go to your mother, father, brothers and sisters and tell them all with all your heart how much you love them. And tell them that you know how much they love you too. Go out of your way to make good memories...At some point these memories may be all you have left. May God bless you all, Bryan"
This was an e-mail sent by Bryan Cloyd, a professor at Virginia Tech, to his students. His daughter Austin, who was a freshman at VT, died on Monday.
This is just one example of how this event has tugged at my heart-strings like it has to many other Americans. Seeing the clips of people re-telling their experience during the tragic event, or seeing how they struggle to retrieve those memories, or seeing how the families and friends of those affected in the tragedy cope with their losses all have been so emotionally compelling.
The most beautiful thing that I've seen this past week was the candlelight vigil at Virginia Tech, seeing the VT community united and standing strong in the face of tragedy.
I've also seen the clips of Cho Seung-Hui's multimedia manifesto, but I choose not to focus on those for this entry, rather I focus on the victims and the community of Blacksberg, because they have been an inspiration to me this week.
I've watch the news non-stop, downloaded innumerable podcasts of news reports that have almost exclusively covered the tragedy, because I am a student of the media, because I am an Asian-American, and because I am a college student.
I've checked in on Virginia Tech's student newspaper, and every issue that I've seen has evoked deep sympathy. Today was especially moving.
The graphic headline featured this:
"If we don't meet again, your final assignment from me is perhaps the most important lesson you will learn in life. Go to your mother, father, brothers and sisters and tell them all with all your heart how much you love them. And tell them that you know how much they love you too. Go out of your way to make good memories...At some point these memories may be all you have left. May God bless you all, Bryan"
This was an e-mail sent by Bryan Cloyd, a professor at Virginia Tech, to his students. His daughter Austin, who was a freshman at VT, died on Monday.
This is just one example of how this event has tugged at my heart-strings like it has to many other Americans. Seeing the clips of people re-telling their experience during the tragic event, or seeing how they struggle to retrieve those memories, or seeing how the families and friends of those affected in the tragedy cope with their losses all have been so emotionally compelling.
The most beautiful thing that I've seen this past week was the candlelight vigil at Virginia Tech, seeing the VT community united and standing strong in the face of tragedy.
I've also seen the clips of Cho Seung-Hui's multimedia manifesto, but I choose not to focus on those for this entry, rather I focus on the victims and the community of Blacksberg, because they have been an inspiration to me this week.