This is not the first time a mass shooting like this has happened in February. 5 years and 1 day apart from the horrific event taken place at MSU, Parkland shooting happened. February 14th, 2018, 17 beautiful lives were ripped away from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 5 years ago my cousins got to walk out of that high school and hug their parents again. Two days ago I got to walk out of Hubbard Hall and hug my mom again. Both my cousins and I got the LUXURY to be able to go home and tell our friends and family we love them another time. For 4 hours my roommate and I sat frozen in fear on the floor of our dorm. Between the time from barricading our door, the crying phone calls, every I love you text and the numerous MSU alerts repeatedly telling students to run, hide, and fight for our life’s. I had time to see how truly naive I was. After one of my last phone calls with my mom in which it ended with me telling her how I didn’t want to die and I just wanted to come home. I finally realized this doesn’t just happen in movies, this doesn’t just happen states away, this doesn’t just happen cities away. This is happening to me right now. I was so incredibly arrogant to think otherwise. So when is it time that we start having these uncomfortable conversations? When do we start having the uncomfortable conversations about gun violence and gun control? When do we have the uncomfortable conversation that America is drowning in struggles of mental health but we are embarrassed to confront it? Until we start having these uncomfortable conversations we are going to get absolutely nowhere. We will just be another statistic in another history book taught in another class 10 years from now. We need change. I will never wish upon anyone the type of fear and the type of pain I and thousands of others have gone through in the last 48 hours. What I do wish is for everyone to hug their parents, friends, family and pets a little tighter, take that risk, and conquer every dream you could possibly have because you truly do not know what day is going to be your last. MSU you are still my home. Forever Spartan Strong.