04/18/2026
Being on campus tonight was special.
I was at Florida State University photographing a PhD graduate exactly one year after the school shooting that shook our community. I remember the moment it all unfolded — knowing it was about to be national news, while also knowing there were people on that campus who mean everything to me. People who, if the outcome had been different, would have completely shattered our lives.
I remember sitting in the what-ifs… reaching out, reminding them how thankful I was for them, for their safety — and mostly, for their bravery.
Walking up to campus tonight, I felt honored to even be there. At first, there was sadness… but the closer I got, the more life I saw. Busy streets. A softball game. The circus. Crowds gathering for baseball. Hundreds of students taking graduation photos — celebrating years of hard work, resilience, and everything it took to get here.
And then… the Unconquered statue, glowing. Lit in remembrance.
There was something incredibly powerful about witnessing both grief and joy exist in the same space. A campus that refuses to be defined by its hardest day.
These sneak peeks feel extra special. Not just because of the milestone being celebrated — but because of everything this place, and these people, have carried and overcome in the last year. ❤️
