"Camp Trin" was our nickname for Trinity. I think Kara may have deemed it that name.

We're not lying when you hear us say that we want to go back. Why wouldn't we? Life at Camp Trin was everything that they say your college years are - the best years of your life.

It's understandable when people excuse this desire as being a result of our transition into the "real world." It's even more understandable now, than ever before, to relate our days in college to a sense of security... to more or less utter bliss. It was a time prior to having lost Kara and prior to facing the most insecure age in our homeland's modern history. Whatever innocence remained after Kara's death was buried in the attacks of September 11th. We were not naïve to the fact that everything changes and nothing ever remains the same, but we were oblivious to the chance that life would drastically change so much - so quickly.

Regardless of all this, even before the unexpected, life-changing events of last year, we all would have attested that life at Trinity was nothing less than the best of times.

Kara amazed me from the first moment that I laid my eyes on her. It was move-in day, freshman year. Our dorm was in the same state of pandemonium that every other freshman dorm in America is in on move-in day. As I maneuvered through the hall I managed to catch a glimpse of Kara out of the corner of my eye. I took note of her because in the midst of the chaos of that day there was Kara in her organized half of her room (the other half undergoing renovations by the Thomas Family). She was sitting on her bed reading. My initial impression of Kara was marked by her serenity.

...Then I began to know her a bit better. :)

Kara always left the impression of being so well balanced when you first met her. I quickly learned it was a facade! Actually, it was one of many facades - Kara was more or less a juggling act. She was the most complex person I had ever met and getting to recognize all of her complexities was the Joy of knowing her.

Kara was incredibly smart, yet, naive as a child. She was beautiful. Her smile was captivating. It stole the heart of many - even if garbed in hockey pads, a sweaty lacrosse uniform, or some crazy costume concocted for a "theme night" out. Her athletic skills were matched by her desire to compete. She'd participate in any game or take on any mission that came her way. She was in every essence a "good person" - considered angelic by many. But, by those who knew who better, considered lucky - for pulling off all the stunts she just barely got away with! She had an agenda and a prerogative, but both were complimented by her compassion. She never relinquished her convictions. She had an eternal amount of love to give and never ceased to search out more, true love to be had. Her laugh was contagious. Her tear supply was ample. She was carefree, yet, wrought by introspection. She had faith…and plenty of uncertainty.

It was her great uncertainty, her "what ifs?" that I found most intriguing about Kara. Daily decision making often created daily dilemmas. Kara's simple style was not always so simply achieved. Making a quick trip to the mall was nearly impossible. More often than not Kara would leave empty-handed claiming to have made a mental list of all of her potential future purchases. In the end she often opted for wearing or toting borrowed items. It was much easier for her to come to the conclusion that she liked something after seeing it worn by someone else.

I think that the indecisiveness that surfaced in what seemed to be the menial aspects of life was due to the indecision that was fundamental to the "bigger picture" of Kara's life. If only the rest of us questioned our purpose and ourselves as much as she did.

Reigning over all of this is what Kara was to us - the complete essence of FUN.

When I think of Kara at Trinity I think of laughter.

We were proud supporters of our Alma Malta's theme: Work hard. Party Hard. No one more so than Kara. Still, she managed to graduate with higher honors than any of our friends…while never missing a beat.

Kara knew how to start the day off right. She seemed to feel it her obligation to make us "wakey wakey" with a "shout out", often in honor of the night before. She celebrated each day as a gift - morning, noon, and night.

Kara had an inspirational sense of motivation and adventure, founded purely on having fun. With a smile, a little dance, a little playful whining in her one-of-a-kind-Kara-accent you could be convinced of doing anything….at anytime! Kara would always be right there with you and everything you did with her was the epitome of fun. Nothing just was.

Her eyes spoke The Truth. The Truth, which finding and knowing it as she did permitted her to live life to the fullest. Kara lived life completely, with a joyous, youthful intoxication about it, and always with humility. Knowing her inspired you to want to do the same, it made you a better person.

We once began to write a book of all the revelations that came to us while in college. We told ourselves it was a "million dollar idea". Today, I realize the most priceless revelation of them all, taught unknowingly to me by Kara, is to Just Live. There are no excuses. The only time that you know you have is the one you're granted in this moment. Love what you have. Love where you are. Cherish whom you're with. Just Live - as much as you possibly can.

"Dance - as though no one is watching you. Love - as though you have never been hurt before. Sing - as though no one can hear you. Live - as though heaven is here on earth." - unknown