On October 2, 2017, I woke up as I would any Monday.

I began my daily routine, scrolling through my social media feeds and came upon the breaking news of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. I immediately put down my phone and turned on the TODAY Show and was met with Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie staring back at me explaining what had happened at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. My classes were online that morning, so I was able to stay in my room and continue watching for updates. As the morning went on, more information was obtained and the media began trying to piece together the situation for the viewers.

In acts of violence like this event, it is hard to think about the future. As a college student, I have my whole life ahead of me. I wonder after events like this, “What will it be like in five years? How am I supposed to live my life in an era like this? The world shouldn’t be like this,” but it is.

Violence is a part of our daily lives. The news every morning reports on terrorist attacks in Europe, escalating tensions between North Korea and the free world and mass shootings. Shootings are treated as regular news stories. Years ago, the media would have spent days covering shootings, and it would have been shocking to the viewers. As a society, we’ve become desensitized and no one stops when they hear traumatic news anymore. I stopped this morning and thought about how this event impacts me and my peers.

I’ve been told by various adults in my life that “your college years are supposed to be the best times in your life.” Now is the time when I should be out having fun, not worrying about the bad things in life. Now is the time for spontaneous trips to the beach, spending time with friends at coffee shops, traveling abroad, and concerts. I shouldn’t have to worry about my safety in public, but I do. This is how the world is in my life, but I can’t let it stop me from enjoying my life. We cannot cease our lives because if we do, evil wins. They get what they want if we stop doing what makes us happy and our lives are wasted in the process. I don’t want them to win.

I understand that we do need to take precautions and make safe decisions. We should be aware when traveling and be prepared in our daily lives. We cannot enjoy life if we don’t make safe decisions. However, when a safe decision becomes withdrawing from your daily life, that’s when a change is needed. You shouldn’t be afraid to go to a coffee shop or a concert. Yes, be aware of the situation, but if you change your life because you’re afraid that something might happen, you're missing out. There is always a chance that something will happen. There is no denying it; we live in a fragile, volatile world, but how is sitting inside going to change it?

I encourage you all to live adventurous lives, to be all that you can be. Don’t sit out on your life because you are afraid. This is your time. It’s your right to live your life. Don’t let anyone take that right away from you.