I know you're feeling an overwhelming wave of emotions. I know you're scared, and I know you're angry. I know that every time you think of our university you feel a pit in your stomach, a lump in your throat and then the tears begin to well in your eyes. I know it feels like your world is at a stand still while everyone else carries on.

And I know you ask yourself, "How could this happen to a place I love so much?"

"How could this happen to my home?"

I know in the time you've spent here, Charlotte has been your safe haven. It's where you've created so many memories that you'll hold on to for a lifetime. For some of you that starts with sharing a 10x10 room with someone for the first time.

It's your freshman year and this is the first time you've been away from home for this long. You'll make friends with your entire hall, you'll find people that will help you study for your first big test, and friends that will go out with you on the weekends. You'll have the time of your life at your first 49ers football game. You'll go on your first college spring break. Some of you will rush and find your home in a sorority or fraternity. You'll declare your major and discover something you're passionate about. You will find out more about yourself in your first year here then you ever have. Your patience might be tested sometimes. I get it, it's hard sharing your space with someone new and believe me, I know Charlotte's parking situation is enough to make you wanna pull your hair out. But these are some of the best days you'll ever have.

Over the course of your next two years you'll finally get to know your way around campus. You'll figure out the perfect time to get to Prospector to avoid the mile long line for Chick-fil-a. You'll dive deeper into your major and be challenged in your courses. You'll have your favorite professors, you know, those ones that go the extra mile for their students. You will learn to hate UNCC's registration process and figure out a way to avoid Friday classes at all costs. You'll join organizations and clubs on campus. You might even play for a rec team. You'll live in various off campus apartments or houses with your friends. You'll spend your weekends at the Aspen pool or at a fraternity party. At some point, you will pull an all nighter in Club Atkins because you waited till the absolute last minute to study for that test or finish that paper. You'll go to LDOC parties and celebrations. Over time, you'll watch your friends graduate and get jobs in various cities.

Then it's your senior year and suddenly you're going to your last first day of classes and the faces you recognize on campus are few and far between. You'll go to your last football game. You'll register for your last semester. You will go on your last spring break. Then you'll sit in your last class as an undergraduate. You'll reflect on your time here and wish it wasn't ending.

To those of you walking this weekend, I want you to know it is okay. It is okay to be happy for the time you've spent here. In fact, you should. Charlotte has been your home for the past four years, do not let the evil acts committed this week take that from you. I hope you remember this time for the overwhelming love and support from our community and that you'll remember this university for everything it taught you. I hope you know it is okay to smile in the midst of all this darkness.

- A 49er Alumna.