Three weeks ago, the USC community experienced the worst tragedy of the school year. Two FRESHMEN were walking back to campus from Greek Row. Neither has returned to school, but one will never. For most students I talked to, this was their first time experiencing the death of a friend. Unfortunately, this is my second since graduation. I did not personally know her, but I had multiple connections to her, including that we both worked at the bookstore on the ground floor. I have multiple emails from her asking me to cover her shifts. However, I do know Marcus, the boy that was hit and is still currently in the hospital.
When death occurs, communities are formed and relationships are strengthened. The Greek community carried the weight of this tragedy together. On Monday, March 30, a candle light vigil was held in honor of Adri and in hopes that Marcus would make a speedy recovery. Every house was represented in great numbers. We cried together and lent a shoulder to lean on. Without knowing the support of the Greek community, none of us would have been able to overcome this tragedy. It’s almost sad that the strength of a community has to be tested with such a horrific event.
I equated this incident with Alice Sebold’s novel The Lovely Bones. My favorite quote from the book is Susie’s statement “These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence; the connections – sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost but often magnificent – that happened after I was gone”. As she watched her family from heaven overcome her disappearance, Susie realizes something beautiful forms around it. All we can ever hope for in death is a positive outcome, some purpose that gives it meaning.
Personally, the hardest concept for me to get over was anyone could have been hit. Me, my best friends, anyone of my sisters. It’s almost odd that death is mostly associated with older people, when in reality, it can happen at any moment, whenever God decides that it is time to go. This experience has left me not taking anything for granted and cherishing every day and every smile.
Unfortunately, people don’t value life. And even worse, those who do have to carry that burden. Keep your heads up, USC. God bless.
