Sometimes, my memory likes to replay events in my mind. Over. And over. And over again.

April 16th, 2007 is one of those days. That day, my Alma Mater, Virginia Tech, lost part of of our Hokie family.

Remembering the events of that week still makes my heart hurt sometimes.

I remember the police cars zooming past me on the street before anyone knew what had happened, their sirens blaring. The entire campus was locked down. I was stuck in the gym for hours. We all watched the news. Disbelief. Fear. Numbness.

One of the victims was in my classes. Her smile is forever etched into my memory.

I spent a lot of time at our church institute building. A couple of friends let me come sleep at their places so that I wouldn’t have to spend time alone. We even had a special church meeting where Elder Bednar came to speak to us. I will be forever grateful for my loving friends and the strength the gospel brings.

For a while, our own little world stopped, but it seemed like everyone else everywhere else just kept going, and I couldn’t understand how.

Before long, classes resumed. The news vans and reporters disappeared. Life crawled back to some semblance of its former rhythm.

Our community grew stronger. Being a Hokie has always been something to be proud of, but now it is also something to cherish.

As the world continues to suffer irrational acts of violence, I know that I can find personal peace through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Cook said it best in this past General Conference: “We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice.”

We might not be able to suddenly morph the world we live in into a universal safe-haven, but we can make a difference in our own homes, and for that, I am grateful.