Always a Hokie

All this time away from Virginia Tech, I've thought of my time there as the distant past, my schooling as an engineer before becoming an actor in New York. But in light of the events on April 16, 2007, the day after my birthday, my memories of that beautiful place, set cozily in the mountains of Blacksburg, have come rushing back to me, and all of them seem good, refracted by time and distance.

I left Tech in 1998 to study acting, here, in New York, then after that lived in the Philippines for a year, and returned only to find the girl of my dreams waiting for me. We've been married almost two years, and lately I've been saying, let's drive down to Tech, it's so beautiful there, I want you to see where I went to school. Now we are definitely going down there in September.

I want to reclaim my school, our school, from this unfathomable event. You would understand if you went there. It was my home for five years, I lived in the dorm where the initial shootings took place, West AJ, I took engineering classes in Norris Hall, where the majority of the violence took place, I crossed the Drillfield daily on my way to class as a freshman and sophomore. I got to look at the gray, granite buildings tower over us and welcome us in to learn.

In the beginning, I appreciated every second there, independent, away from home, in the campus of campuses. School got harder, my direction changed, as did my goal to get out of Blacksburg and go to NYC. Now, all I can feel is the desire to drive down I-81 to see the orange and maroon of our beloved campus and give my support to the families and friends, students and faculty, that call Tech their home right now.

Whatever my political views, I watched the Convocation yesterday held in Cassell Coliseum, with overflow at Lane Stadium. The media has been covering everything and having the day off, I watched coverage all day. And after the speeches, and sincere words spoken to console, from President Steger, to Governor Kane, President Bush, and Nikki Giovanni, the crowd, in unison and impromtu, began clapping to our all-too familiar cheer, "Let's go Hokies!"

Here is what I wrote in Facebook:

My thoughts, prayers and love go out to all the family and friends of the victims, as well as, the Virginia Tech community. As an alumnus who has lived in West AJ, sat in lectures in Norris Hall, I can only imagine the fear students felt during this tragedy. I wish hope and healing upon our school and am grateful for this online community, showing that people care about other people throughout the world. Always a Hokie...

Here's what MSNBC correspondent and Tech alum, Hoda Kotb had to say, and it resonated with me when I watched her video of this.

As more information unfolds, especially about the victims, please keep them in your hearts.