I am a product of 13 years at a Catholic all girls school, and I must admit that while I attended the Academy I felt safe AND immune to the reality of teen violence. Don't get me wrong, the Academy wasn't a utopia, but I can't think of a time when I ever went to school feeling threatened. My school was in a very urban part of town and a few blocks down was a public high school with a notorious rap sheet.

Like Amy, I too had a "sheltered" experience, but I am thankful for that. I remember in grade school the biggest threat to the neighborhood was the local Bloods and Crips (yes, Honolulu had their own). I was kept away from that--even when a family friend (who was only 16) was gunned down in a random shooting 3 years ago.

It wasn't until I finished high school that I realized that something was going on with America's youth. Ironically, that was when cities like Jonesboro AR, Paducah KY, Springfield OR were being plastered on the nightly news. I could not believe that these baby-faced children could ever commit these atrocities.

The horrors of Columbine was what did it. I witnessed the pain of the Littleton, CO residents and I couldn't help but share in their sorrow...because I realized that in a few years I too will be a parent.

What kind of world are we going to bring our children into?

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*I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!*