When you think of Saginaw, MI, you may think of Fashion Square Mall or several movie theaters and restaurants.

And you may also think of violence.

But when I think of Saginaw, I think of SVSU. A university that is warm and inviting with people that have smiles that light up the city. So how can such a beautiful place with beautiful people turn into something so ugly and threatening?

On Saturday, September 10, our football team played Northwood for the Battle of the Axe. I worked a double that night, so I missed the tailgating and game. Because of this, I had my best friends keep me posted throughout the game, hoping the Cards would take the victory — which they did. With a win under their belt, I knew the party that night would have so many people there to celebrate the win. I could not wait to get out of work.

I remember pulling into Campus Village at 11:40 p.m. I watched students walking through to the parties at the townhomes. Freshmen, Northwood students, and people that didn't even go to SVSU. That's the good thing about our community. We are so open-armed to everyone, right?

I remember being surrounded by my four roommates as well as most of my fellow Cardinals. Everyone was having the time of their lives. I mean, how could you not when we just beat Northwood and everyone was here to celebrate?

I remember soaking in this moment — a moment of feeling alive around people who had pride in being a Card.

I remember dancing with my friends and exchanging hugs with people I haven't seen or people I barely knew.

I remember laughing.

I remember being happy.

I remember hearing the very first gunshot go offwhile there was music playing, laughing, and dancing.

I remember thinking it was a firework or maybe a firecracker.

I remember hearing the second gunshot go off, turning around, and seeing just how close my group of friends was to the shooter.

I remember panicking.

I remember running while trying with all my strength to keep ahold of all of my friends without falling or crying too hard.

I remember dropping my phone and not caring about running back to get it.

I remember hearing the next gunshot.

I remember losing my friends as we all ran in different directions.

I remember looking at the students running beside me while my tear-filled eyes met theirs. All I saw was fear as they screamed and sobbed.

I remember hearing multiple police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks.

I remember calling my mom at 2:05 a.m. and 48 times after that wondering if it would be the last time she ever hears from me.

I remember thinking that I was going to die, that maybe he would get into my apartment.

I remember crying so hard that I couldn't breathe.

I remember sitting on the steps of my apartment praying to God that my best friend made it out of the party alive.

I remember it all. And I know that the people there do too because, you see, that is how an armed shooter impacts the people around him. Even though I was not shot, I was still impacted. This incident has caused me to become numb, to become scared to leave my bed every waking day, to become frightened of people and of life. This is what an armed shooter does.

But this shooter will never take away my Cardinal pride. He will never take away the love I have for this school, for the people, and for the community. He will never take away the moments that I have spent with some of the kindest, selfless people that God has granted me with. He will never take away my love for SVSU and the student body. He will never take away the pain that was caused to myself and everyone involved on Saturday night.

All of the individuals that want to say that it is nothing new, to have a shooting in Saginaw, have no idea the amount of trauma that is caused to myself and the students who attend SVSU or the ones that had an appearance at the party. Until you witness yourself and 60-plus students running, don't critic a city based on what the statistics say.

Put yourself in our shoes and have some empathy.

Shootings in Saginaw should not be "expected," in fact, shootings anywhere should not be expected. Just because it is Saginaw, MI, does not mean it is an excuse for a hateful crime. No more excuses, no more college shootings, no more violence. Wake up America, realize that there are problems everywhere, and do something about it.

We are survivors. We are Family. We are SVSU. We are Cardinal Strong.