It’s such a beautiful day today. The yard is green again and the trees have started to bloom. Walking to breakfast this morning, I truly enjoyed the warmth and sunlight of the newly arrived spring. Everybody is outside today, wearing shorts, playing frisbee, and watching playful squirrels on campus.

This weekend, Harvard welcomed the students admitted into the class of 2011 in its annual prefrosh celebrations. Since we have about 1,000 visitors every year, current students volunteer to host them in the freshman dorms and upper-class houses, and I was happy to host two girls. They both arrived Friday night, one from California and the other from New York. It has been fun showing them around campus and answering their questions. I had forgotten how overwhelming the college process seems at the beginning, when one might be misled by stereotypes and uninformed comments. For example, the girls were worried about an elitist attitude in Harvard students and about being able to make close friendships in a relatively large campus. I told them that the majority of the people I have met here are actually very humble and friendly, and encouraged them to go to scheduled events on their own so that they could meet other prefrosh students and find out for themselves. I also told them that in a large campus it is actually easier to meet people. Since the class is bigger and there is a wider range of interests represented, one is bound to find a niche.

For the next day or two, the girls will be attending mixers, panel discussions, and special performances put together for this weekend. Although I probably will join them for a meal or two, I want to make sure that they have the independence to meet other students, explore Cambridge, and not feel attached to my own schedule.

The nice weather and weekend festivities have somewhat served to counteract the sorrow that filled our university last week, when students at Virginia Tech were brutally assassinated. I had just come back to my dorm from class when I went online and my homepage automatically took me to the New York Times. I couldn’t believe the headlines I was reading. Minutes after, my father called and asked if everything was O.K. He and my mom had just watched the news on T.V. Soon, in dorms, bathrooms, and hallways, all you could hear were conversations about the shooting. In every face there was an expression of insecurity, and our discussions reflected a deep solidarity with the Virginia Tech community.

When such horrible events take place, the consequences inevitably spread across many boundaries, and the pain is felt by all. As soon as our school was informed of the events, the president of the Harvard Student Council got in touch with the president of Virginia Tech and offered him all our support. On Thursday, more than 200 students gathered at the steps of our Memorial Church for a candlelight vigil in memory of those who died. The Harvard University Health Services and Bureau of Student Counsel also held drop-in hours for anyone who wanted to speak to a counselor about the tragedy and its impact.

Personally, I was certainly shocked by this massacre. I have always felt very secure at Harvard. Although ours is a very open campus that welcomes tourists at all times, there are police officers around and emergency phones in many areas. We also have shuttles that run at late hours to take students around campus so they do not have to walk by themselves when it’s dark. Security measures definitely played a part in my college decision. However, now I am conscious that some tragedies are unpredictable, and that despite all the caution you may take, there is always risk.

But we cannot become overly fearful or paranoid, because that is precisely what aggressors want to achieve. They aim to create a culture of permanent alarm. You’re better off being cautious without neglecting opportunities for happiness. I am sure that now many parents and students will question the idea of colleges far away from home, but that should not be the case. What happened at Virginia Tech is the exception and not the rule, and with this precedent, I’m sure that security measures will be enhanced throughout the country.

From now on, my roommates and I have decided to be even more conscious of our safety. Before, we used to leave the door to our room open when going out into the hallway bathroom. Now we make sure to take our keys with us at all times and leave the door locked. These little things can make a big difference. Aside from that, though, we have decided not to let panic or excessive fear take over. As long as there is life, we feel that we might as well live it to the fullest, enjoying every second for us and for those who did not have the chance to enjoy them.