Facing the world isn’t easy, but friends make all the difference

February 17th, 2008 at 01:17pm Jeniece Smith

Since leaving NIU on Thursday, I haven’t been anywhere but work or home in Rockford. I worked Thursday and Friday, but since Friday evening, I’ve shut myself into my house for a little solitude.

This morning, I left the house and went to breakfast with family in Rockford. It seemed strange to look around the restaurant and see so many smiling faces. Understandably, life goes on as normal for people who had no connections to this tragedy.

It’s a different story for those who lost loved ones, for students who lost a sense of security, and for the DeKalb community, which will for a long time be reeling from this devastating blow.

My coworkers have also felt the pain of NIU’s loss. A Register Star photographer sent to the university after the shooting showed me a button pin someone gave him while he was there. It has a dove on it and a message that reads “Peace be with you.” He cried when he talked about the students he came into contact with.

On Thursday and Friday, so many colleagues came over to offer me a kind word or just to put a hand on my shoulder. I wasn’t able to walk through the newsroom without someone stopping me and giving me a hug.

This event, as heart-wrenching as it may be for the NIU community, has drawn us all together. It’s comforting to be surrounded by such a strong group of support.

Entry Filed under: Jeniece Smith