In my opinion,the futurelooksmore than bright

How could two high school students come in wearing black trench coats and masks as they shot the students and faculty they came in contact with? Not only this, but they had placed over SHANNON DOWNS thirty bombs throughout the school. As we are all well aware, this happened on Tuesday, April 20th at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. The tragic incident is one that will go down in history as one of the most tragic massacres to take place in the United States.

As I watched the event unfold, I just remember thinking that something like that could never have happened. When reality set in, I became fearful of what it would be like in the future. It seems more and more that young students take matters into their own hands when they get their hands on guns. The thought that they are now able to make homemade bombs has yet to sit well with me. Could people really be that terrible? Not just people, but young kids. I had so many questions of my own that could not be answered. Whether or not we were directly involved with this incident, we have all been affected by it.

A whole day went by after the suspects had carried out their mission and police were able to go inside the high school to report the damage. There was not one person I didn't come in contact with who did not know what happened in Colorado the day before. They were just as upset and confused as the next person. Everyone was looking for answers as their thoughts and prayers were with the victims and their families.

However, on the next day, something remarkable happened. It had been a few weeks since there were flyers and notices asking for anyone interested in saving a person's life to come to the Dixon Center. We all know the sad story of how Elizabeth Santorine (Mr. Joe Santorine's daughter) has been diagnosed with leukemia. Anyone interested in having their bone marrow tested for possible donation was to meet in the center to give blood for a life-saving procedure that Thursday. Though I had signed up to attend, my spirits were still very low after the tragedy that was still fresh in many of our minds.

However, when I entered the Dixon Center, I was overwhelmed by what I saw. There was a standing line of over thirty people waiting to have their blood tested. I was told by a friend of mine who was working there that it had been like that from the time that they started the procedures, and it was well past an hour since then. As I looked around, there were people talking, laughing and even joking as they waited their turn in the lines. There were people who I honestly did not expect to see present doing the same as they took two tubes that would be filled with their blood. The faculty, staff and administrators gathered together in what looked like a real family. Though many of us do not see eye to eye, it was a pleasure to see everyone getting along and supporting each other. I finally saw the Cabrini family that I had heard of, but did not really see until that day. We're all made of the same things, regardless of what we look like or how we act. We're people: young, old, black. white, yellow, Catholic, Jewish, whatever, and over three hundred of us pulled together in a wonderful effort to save a life (the exact number was 332 people). Once again, though we may not know Mr. Santorine, or Elizabeth, we were all affected when we heard of the heartache they are facing right now, and we all acted on that.

While victims, families and friends gathered together to lie flowers in front of Columbine High School in the snow, the tragedy of what happened was all too clear again. We may never have the answers as to why something that horrible could have happened. However, one thing is true: people are generally good inside. I know that after what I saw that day in the Dixon Center, it will take a lot for me to judge a person. It would be best if we all did that. Thank you to all of you who helped and attended the drive to save Elizabeth's life. We really are the Cabrini family, in more ways than one. No matter what, blood is thicker than water, and you have all proved that. While other events will more than likely happen where you question if the future looks dim, remember how a little girl brought so many of us together. In my opinion, the future looks more than bright.

Shannon Downs is a junior majoring in English/Communications. She is a guest writer for the Loquitur.