One week ago, we shared our exciting news about Baby Charlie, but I couldn't bring myself until now to do a post about the bad news of the day...the shooting at NIU. I went to NIU for 4 years and without those 4 years at NIU, my life would be VERY different. I wouldn't have many of my closest friends and some of those close friends introduced me to Kenny...I LOVE going back to Northern to visit the places we used to hang out and I can't wait to bring little Charlie back there and get him NIU outfits. And maybe, if I'm lucky, he will want to go to school there too!
During my time there, I was involved with different organizations, but probably those that affected me the most were PSE and working for the school paper, the Northern Star. I feel like those organizations made me love NIU that much more and really made me feel apart of the family there. NIU is know for being so close to Chicago and it being a suitcase school, since so many packed up each weekend and went home to the burbs. It was NEVER that for me...granted when I started there, it was a nice perk, but I ended up getting so involved that I rarely went home.
The news of the shootings there broke my heart...I tried to put myself in the place of the current students and to have something that I love so much hurt by such a horrible crime...I just can't imagine. As an alum of the Star, we regularly get emails from the two advisors regarding upcoming activities and how the Star is doing. Those emails came several times a day for the last week. One of the killed students was a Star employee and the current staff has been so greatly hurt by that loss. Those emails also were so inspiring to read...they, along with many newspaper articles (many written by former NIU students and Star employees), described the great pull that has brought NIU together...and truly made them a stronger school than ever. THAT has been awesome to see, hear about and has never made me more proud to be part of the NIU family.
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