My hometown: New Buffalo, Michigan. Population: 1,876 (in 2013). My home and my safe place. I mean, the butcher is friends with the first grade teacher -- it is a very comfortable place. My hometown is part of a county that is full of so many communities that are almost identical to New Buffalo. As I take part in a community that is so close knit and comfortable, it felt as if this safe place of mine was invincible and secluded that we would never be hit by the tragedy that is repeatedly announced on the nightly news. As of July 11, I was sadly proved wrong.

In the neighboring city of St. Joseph, two officers of the Berrien County Courthouse were shot and killed, one deputy and one civilian were injured, by an inmate trying to escape custody at an arraignment hearing. Soon after, the inmate was killed, too.

After living in this safe guarded town and county for so long, it is heart-wrenching to hear that families are torn apart. Dads, grandfathers, uncles, brothers are now gone forever; Their families are now mourning this tragic loss. But Michigan is not the only place affected by situations like this. There are many people nationwide who are just as puzzled as me. Their 'safe place' is no longer safe; they roam the area now, not knowing if a gunman will round the corner, only to cause more havoc on the already distraught community.

What perplexes me the most is how can humans treat each other like this. It is a fact that black lives are put on the line way more often than white lives. Quite frankly, that is what the #blacklivesmatter movement is all about; it is trying to help change this large issue our nation has. But what I can't seem to wrap my head around is the idea that local police officers are now fearful of the job they once had passion for. I am only one individual; I don't have the answer to solve racism in the country. But I can honestly say that I DON'T think that the answer is to brutally attack police officers such as the incident in Dallas demonstrated.

I am paralyzed with fear for the families of those who work in any branch of law enforcement nationwide. I am paralyzed with fear that my safe place will no longer be as sheltered and protected as I once thought it was. I am paralyzed with fear every time I turn on the news, anxiously waiting to hear if another shooting has taken place somewhere across the country.

I can cross my fingers that one day, more people nationwide will start to come to the realization that prisoners, gays, straights, police officers, lawyers, judges or civilians are one in the same regardless of their skin tone, profession or sexual orientation. We are ALL humans. I can throw thousands of pennies into a fountain, all wishing for the same cliché thing: world peace. And even though it might not spread worldwide, I at least pray that it spreads nationwide throughout the United States.

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own home. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor...Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living of expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting." - Mother Teresa