so i go to check my mail today and i get the following email..

I'm writing to tell you some very unfortunate news about one of our fellow classmates.

Karen Young class of 1998, was murdered in her Mission Hill apartment on her son's seventh birthday, Friday August 10. She herself was only 20 years old. Two masked men broke into her off-campus apartment, bound Karen Young, Rollin Chow and one other person and shot all three of them execution style. Karen and one other person died, and a third victim survived when his assailant's gun jammed.

Karen was one of the amazing stories at BLS. She gave birth to her son at age 13 the summer before 9th grade started. From that point on decided that she was going to excel at BLS, not only for herself but for her son. Karen was a dedicated member to several organizations and clubs in and outside of the BLS community during her high school years. I personally remember her work in the student council, where she was later honored with the Latin Spirit award for all of her long hours, effort and personal determination. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, and her then four year-old son, Aaron, was present during the induction ceremony.

In the Karen's Senior spotlight, she spoke about why she decided to stay in BLS and raised her son: " I never wanted to look back ten or twenty years from now and wonder 'What if I had stayed in school? What if I hadn't given up? Not knowing what I could have done or accomplished would have driven me insane.' I couldn't have lived with that kind of regret. All I do, I do for Aaron and myself, so that he can look up to his mother an be proud, and so that I can look in the mirror and be content."

Karen was going to enter her Senior year at Northeastern as a Computer Science major. Her sister Helen Young had no comment about the double murder.

I know these years are very trying, but anytime that you think about giving up, or turning back please remember Karen's resilience and mission. Please keep her in your prayers and thoughts.

Love to all of you,
Please be safe
-Melissa McClinton
Class of 1998

thats really really scary.. she sat in front of me in like a million classes. she was the sweetest thing. not that we were even close though. but its just so surreal. like, i havent even thought of her.. i never expected to actually see her again or anything.. but getting this email was just kinda like a slap into reality or something. its just so weird.. her son was the cutest.. i remember the days she brought him to school.. i didnt believe he was hers. a kid at 13? yeah right. she had a 4 year old during our junior year.. she was so strong. and its so weird.. its so not real. people i know dont get murdered..

i really have nothing else to say. just in a weird state right now..

for the record, my refrigerator makes the most hideous noise..  

love michelle

next