TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Saturday night was an opportunity for the community to gather together to honor those injured and injured at Florida State University.
Over the past few days, FSU students, staff and community members have been making emotional roller coasters, people who have to fight for their lives, others have lost loved ones, and many have tried to understand it all.
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Since Thursday’s deadly mass shooting, multiple vigils and gatherings on and off campus have helped to attract the Seminole community more closely.
Students leaned against each other to ask for help when they returned to campus.
FSU students Ashley Bowdrow and Tyler Doherty recall the overwhelming emotions they hit on the morning of the shooting.
“I’ve had a really hard time trying to handle it. It’s been a turn between being paralyzed and being angry and crying and being really not knowing how to understand it,” said FSU junior Ashley Boudlow. “We went all night yesterday, and I think that was the first moment I could really hit me and start processing a bit.”
Boudreaux and many of her companions are grateful that they are surrounded by each other at this point and hope to reach together as a family.
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“I don’t think there’s any other way to do this as a community, to sit together and pay tribute to those injured, those nearby, and those who have passed away,” Boudreaux said.
With graduation and finals turning the corner, students shared mixed feelings about their upcoming emotions.
“We handle this in a very different way, so we know there’s definitely someone who’s ready to go back to a sense of normality and go back to class and complete all the assignments and go back into the ditch of things,” said FSU sophomore Tyler Doherty. “But for each individual who is ready to do it, some people don’t have the mental, emotional, or physical ability to do it right now.”
FSU president Richard McCullough shared in an X post that classes and business operations will resume on Monday.
While some students expressed concern over the decision, McCullough has promised to be flexible for the university and its staff who may not be able to return.
