The question most people use to frequently ask me

was, “What’s A Hokie?” It was always asked

with a subtle smile, as if they could stump me. I didn’t

mind their naivety. I knew the answer: I AM.

On April 16th, 2007, however, the question changed.

32 Hokies were killed in an on campus school shooting.

The whole world learned that a hokie was more than just an angry turkey. They didn’t have to ask anymore.

Instead they asked, “Where were you when it happened?”

I don’t mind the curiousness.3 million questions went throughmy head that day, too.

“Why would this happen?”comes to my mind first.

I was in my off campus apartment, glued to the TV because my professor canceled my class before the University did. My friends on campus were on lockdown, using their instant messaging as their only source for a minute-to-minute update.

I remember the broadcaster updating us early that morning. “Twenty-two casualties,” I typed verbatim to my friends on AIM.

Cell phones didn’t work well that day.What’s going on? they IMed me.

What’s a casualty? Doesn’t casualty mean death?I must be wrong...it means injuries. I google the word to confirm my suspicions. “Death” shows up on my screen. I wonder how many people googled “casualty” that day. I know for a fact that I wasn’t the only one.

“Thirty-two casualties,” the broadcaster announceslater in the day. I’m sure I know one of them.

Did you know anyone?

Who?

As months have passed, and the looks of pity havestarted to evolve into ambivalence, when I say I’m aHokie, the frequently asked questions have changedyet again.

If 25,000 people attend Virginia Tech,what are the chances that I would know one of the 32 brave alumni? People don’t realize how small the school actually is.

A quote circulated the Internet the week of April 16th that has stayed with me. “Somewhere in heaven, 32 angels are explaining what a Hokie is.”

I’m sure all 32 of them proudly explain, “I AM.”

Dedicated in loving memory of our 32 brave Hokies