It's taken me some days to gather my words - Wednesday was an incredibly tough day, but I am so grateful I got to spend it with you all in SJ. It was great to see the strength of the community again this past Saturday at the Rainier basketball game in Redwood City.

I know that however hard this time is for me, it is countless times harder on all of you. I'm sure the San Jose teachers and other adults have expressed how inspiring your strength has been, but I want to make sure you know that your influence has gone beyond your own community. I returned to Summit Shasta on Thursday and (tearfully) told the students of the grief and strength at the San Jose schools. I shared with them the slideshow you all made; their response was breathtaking.

Unprompted, the Shasta students started writing letters. Some wrote to the Semana family, some to SJ students and teachers - all of them expressing their sincere condolences and sympathy. Many students wrote to me, expressing a new-found recognition of how much they loved the people they went to school with and new-found commitments to saying hello to people when they otherwise might not. Based on what they learned about Justin from the slideshow you all made, Shasta students vowed to smile more, to work harder, and to be more appreciative of those in their lives. Many students said this day was the turning point for them - where they finally "got it" about the importance of and their belonging to the Summit community.

The Shasta students wanted me to tell you guys that they consider you their "cousins" in this Summit family: though they don't know you personally, they feel for you, they are praying for all of you, and they are inspired by you. The students and parents wanted to thank you for making sure that Justin's memory had an effect on not just those who knew him, but anyone who had a teammate, classmate, sibling, son or daughter. We've all been truly touched.