We are sad today, and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on, we are embracing our mourning.
We are Virginia Tech.
We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again.
We are Virginia Tech.
We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it, but neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, neither do the invisible children walking the night away to avoid being captured by the rogue army, neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devestated for ivory, neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water, neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of the night in his crib in the home his father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destabilized. No one deserves a tragedy.
We are Virginia Tech.
The Hokie Nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imaginations and the possibilities. We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness.
We are the Hokies.
We will prevail.
We will prevail.
We will prevail.
We are Virginia Tech.
10 Comments
April 18, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Hello Monday I was off of work here in Michigan and was stunned to hear of the massacre at Virginia Tech. As I ran errands and did things during the day I thought of my dad back in Tennessee. My father, who is 81 is a graduate of Virginia Tech in Business and ran restuarant business all his life after that. I called dad up and aid did you hear what happened he said yes and that everything is a mess and sadden.
April 19, 2007 at 1:17 am
As a member of the Virginia Tech community and a lifelong Hokie fan for my entire life, I am deeply distressed by the massacre on campus. I attended the convocation and came to some realization after Nikki Giovanni spoke that the healing process is beginning. I am not a VT student, I attend Mary Baldwin College and will graduate in May. To all the Hokies, just like Mrs. Giovanni said, “We will prevail”. Let’s Go Hokies and let’s come together to overcome but never forget this terrible tragedy. God Bless you all!
April 19, 2007 at 3:43 am
I have never felt this empty. I am lost.
On Monday, my home was destroyed and my family was killed. My life was forever altered and my memories were stained with blood.
I begin to cry as I feel alone, drowning. Yet there is a stiring in my heart as I remember my strength. Our strength. Our hope. We are Hokies. Together we may cry, but united we are strong. Together we will stand again.
When mourning, we need to be surrounded by those we love. It is my Hokies that lift me up and give me faith in God that we will survive. There is something so deep about the power we have when we unite. I never knew the true meaning of what it was to be a Hokie until Monday.
A piece of each of us died on Monday, but we will not be destroyed. We will rise stronger than ever. We will prevail.
Before Monday, whenever asked what a Hokie is, my response was: “I am.” Now, when asked that same question, my response will be, “We are.”
God Bless. I love you all.
April 19, 2007 at 7:59 pm
I was watching the convocation on tv and when Nikki read this poem, it brought tears to my eyes and gave me chills when everyone erupted into “Let’s Go….Hokies”. I along with my fellow students at UVA-wise send out sincerest condolence and we continue to pray for you all. May God Bless you all. 4-16-07 ” Today we are all Hokies.
April 19, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Ms. Giovanni is a needed voice with heart and understanding. And so I say…Today I am a Hokie.
April 20, 2007 at 2:06 am
to all the hokies:
I am shocked and saddened about the events of this week. my prayers go out to Va Tech.
Please do not let this tragic event, keep you from continuing with your education. you have a beautiful campus, and people who care about you.
You are strong, you will prevail you are HOKIES!!!
God bless you and your families!!
April 20, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I am a student at Xavier University of Louisiana. On April 20th, our school held a candlelight vigil on the campus for the victims. We were told also that some students from Virginia Tech were recently living on our campus to help with the relief efforts of the city. When I heard about the shootings at Virginia Tech, all I could do was pray. This made me realize that something like this can happen anywhere, which is a scary feeling. So many mixed emotions, so hard to bear. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and the entire Virginia Tech community. God Bless~
April 21, 2007 at 7:34 pm
For years I have worn my class ring proudly and told everyone about the beauty and spirit of Virginia Tech. It took a tragedy but now the whole world sees it. My thoughts and prayers are with Virginia Tech’s family and friends now and forever.
April 25, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Nikki, bearing her own burden of knowledge and pain, stood up there and tapped directly into the heart and spirit of Hokies gathered to grieve. She reached out, as only Nikki could, to put words to the bewilderment and to comfort those who needed it most. I have never been more proud to be a VT student nor more honored to know Nikki Giovanni. May the Peace of her soul fill us all.
I thank God for you, Nikki, may blessings be upon you.
May 25, 2007 at 5:35 am
As a loved one of a faculty member of tech and a friend of several tech students and as a student myself of Bluefield College I express my sorrow and sympathy for those and the innocence lost on that tragic day. May right prevail over evil and may we rise from the ashes as the phoenix. Semper Fi