BLACKSBURG, VA—The morning after the shooting at Virginia Tech, students at the university looked confused and shocked. After the convocation ceremony in the afternoon, they looked somewhat relieved. But it was after the candlelight vigil in the evening that their faces seemed different—although they were still sad, there were soft smiles on their faces, showing some hope of healing.
On Tuesday afternoon, a convocation ceremony was held to memorialize the loved ones who were killed.
"When it was first announced, it felt like it was a little too early," said Merilyn Lerch, a Blacksburg minister and Virginia Tech campus minister, and a Virginia Tech graduate. "I wondered how people would feel about the safety of being in a big group like that," she said.
But after the convocation, she thought the event was successful. "It was appropriately serious, but at the end sort of joyful," said Lerch in describing the convocation. "In myself I felt a little different after that event, like a little healing had started."
Thousands Light Candles to Mourn Shooting Victims
Thousands of people attended the candle light vigil last night, including teachers, students, parents and supporters. Everyone held candles, shedding a beautiful light over the campus. The purpose of the vigil, as was said during the event, was not to dwell on the tragedy, but to heal.
People seemed to leave the candlelight vigil with a new outlook, reflected in the soft smiles on their faces—smiles that said together, there's always hope.
"It's really nice that everyone came out to support," said Kelly McLunis a sophomore at Virginia Tech. She said that she felt different after the candle light vigil.
"I'm glad to see everyone together, I'm glad to see the community together," said Ina O'Carrol, a graduate student at Virginia Tech, after the vigil. She said that although this is something they will never forget, "at least we'll be able to survive, knowing that everyone is here together, supporting each other."
Although the Hokie cheers (chanted for Virginia Tech's sports teams) at the end of the convocation and the candlelight vigil seemed a little bit inappropriate to some, many could still understand that it was also part of the process of healing, and had the effect of uniting and giving power to each other.
"I suppose the football cheers are recognition of the community. That's something the group shares in common," said Carol Mason of Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech Community Still in Shock After Shooting
"It's still a shock," says Lerch, in spite of the relatively lighter atmosphere now. "One person's distress can just rifle and wipe out so much [healing]." As a part of the campus leadership, she says that there's a lot of consideration of other events like this, to give people a chance to be together and talk. "I think it's very important part of healing, too," she said.
Despite the announcement that classes are cancelled through the end of the week, many students have stayed close to campus to be together and to support each other.
Support also continues to pour in from outside of the campus and the local community. Jennifer Varley and Jessy Fuller came from Radford University, about fifteen minutes away from Virginia Tech, to support the students at the university.
When they heard the news they were shocked. After the candlelight vigil, they said that it's very sad, but the way the community handles it "you couldn't have asked for anything better."