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Blog Entry 14 of 32 Into the hills
I started working at YourHub.com in October of 2005. Lucky for me I actually live in the area I cover for YourHub.com, which makes me feel a little more in touch with my community and I hope to tell you what that is like and get some feedback. I’ll also let you know what’s going on with me and share some observations about whatever’s on my mind. I might also throw in a book review here or there, although I doubt it will be anything too earth shattering. My hope is to find some other reviewers out there, for books, restaurants, entertainment, etc... Enjoy!

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~zimmermanr

Columbine anniversary cause for reflection

Contributed by: Rebecca Zimmerman/YourHub.com   on 4/6/2007

On April 20, 1999 I was sitting in yearbook class, mouth hanging open and watching the TV in disbelief. My classmates and I were watching the events unfold live at Columbine High School.

The image I most remember from the day was an aerial view from a helicopter, capturing students running out of the school. I remember thinking how big the school looked on TV; I also remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach for the rest of the day.

I was a senior at Avon High School in a suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana (the town is also called Avon). After the tragedy, it seemed as though fellow classmates were treating each other a little bit nicer for the rest of the year. I have good memories as my senior year ended; yet, just few states away, other soon-to-be graduates didn't have such a good ending to their high school careers, instead it ended in tragedy.

One thing I've now come to realize is how similar my high school and Columbine High School really are. Columbine High School had a few more students than mine, but were both located in an upper-class suburb of bigger cities. At the time, I think Columbine didn't feel quite real and many of us probably chose to ignore it. I think the same type of tragedy could have happened at my school, just as easy as any other.

As I reflect back, I never thought I would be as connected to Columbine as I am now and how real the tragedy has become for me. For one thing, I never thought I would be living in Colorado, let alone living just a few short miles away from the school, let alone covering the Columbine community for my job at YourHub.com.

In college, at Ball State University, I remember going to a seminar where Rachel Scott's dad spoke on the experience he went through that day ... I was in tears by the end. Even stranger was, when I first moved to Colorado, I had a stint at a day care and worked with a girl whose sister died at Columbine. She always takes April 20 off. After learning this of her, I was quite impressed with how her life and her family's life have continued on, despite the trauma they went through.

I guess what irks me a little bit recently was the decision to seal the depositions from the parents of the two gunmen for 20 years. Obviously, I don't know what those depositions said - maybe there was something of value in those documents that would prevent more school shootings - but maybe not, too. I guess the sad thing is violence will always be in the world and not all of it can be prevented.

Would you like to reflect on the upcoming anniversary of Columbine? Post your thoughts here. What do you think about the depositions being sealed? Read this story to comment. Read Littleton resident Ann Himel's story, Columbine: Closure may not be possible. Read a story by Kirsten Kreiling, member of the Columbine Committee, here.


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Submitted By: Laura Mayo
posted on 4/12/2007 @ 11:57:34 AM
Rated Blog Entry
Great Blog Rebecca. It made me reflect on what I was doing when the Columbine tragedy occured. It's so sad to think about.
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