Elilta Habtu spent the morning of April 16 checking her e-mail constantly, convinced that classes would be canceled because it was so cold.
As a second semester senior, her morning routine was simple. She would study, go to class, and hang out with friends.
"I was not worried about things," Elilta said. "Blacksburg was one of the safest places on Earth, so I was just enjoying life."
At 8:50 a.m. she walked to her German class in Norris Hall 207. Elilta was looking forward to graduating, and though she didn't want to go to class because of the frigid outside air, she took her seat in the front row at 9:05 a.m., as she would on any other day.
The multiple visits from Seung-Hui Cho that morning, as he planned his attack, were serious distractions.
"The first time was innocent, the second was annoying," Elilta said. "He looked like he was looking for someone; it was that long of an interruption."
Elilta said that the distractions seemed innocent, and though it twice broke their attention, it was not until gunshots rang out in room 207 that reality set in.
"For five seconds I sat there watching him, thinking it wasn't real," Elilta said. "I didn't realize it was real until I saw blood. The last thing I remember was ducking under the desk. I was still in denial, but my body was just reacting. I was sitting in the front row, right in the middle, just staring at him."
Though Elilta suffered multiple injuries, adrenaline and shock set in while shooting was underway.
"I didn't know I was shot in the wrist until I looked down," Elilta said. "I felt being shot in the head, but not in the jaw. I was conscious throughout the entire thing, because I was so aware of what was going on. I was kind of paralyzed because of shock."
As Cho exited the classroom, only to attempt to return, Elilta found herself unable to move. She witnessed several students from her class spring to action.
"I was so surprised that Erin Sheehan, Katelyn Carney and Derek O'Dell were up and running to hold the door," Elilta said. "I wasn't able to do something like that, and I don't think I would have thought of that. If he was able to go back in, well, we saw the damage; we wouldn't be here."
Only able to look around, Elilta began to notice the extent of her injuries, though she was convinced they were all minor.
"I thought I was shot in the top of my head, because I could tell there was blood in my mouth and that I was injured," Elilta said. "The bullet is still in my head, one millimeter from my brain. If it didn't go through my jawbone, I'd probably be dead. One millimeter away from my brainstem is scary."
As shots down the hall continued, Elilta began wondering to herself when everything would end. She said that students were shouting out the windows for help, fearing Cho's return.
"Even when it was quiet, we were waiting," Elilta said. "I just wanted to get out of there. To experience all that, I just wanted to go home and be safe."
Thanks to the barricade implemented by other students, Cho was not able to reenter room 207, and police arrived on the scene shortly.
Elilta spent a month in the hospital following her injury, physically and mentally drained.
"I was so wiped out," Elilta said. "It was so embarrassing, but at the same time you have to go through it. It's so frustrating, because people don't know what you've gone through."
Elilta has since realized that her injuries were much more serious than she thought. Only one of her injuries, where a bullet grazed the top of her head, healed completely during her month in the hospital.
"My jaw was fragmented, my chin was broken, and my tongue was on fire because the bullet pierced through it," Elilta said. "I was on narcotics, and that wasn't enough. I was crying because I was in so much pain."
Elilta has since been back to campus several times, the most notable being her first return visit. Despite having not fully recovered, Elilta was able to walk at graduation in May.
"They let me out for that day and then I had to go right back," Elilta said. "I busted my ass for a week, through the intense therapy. I was out of breath after walking for two minutes. I was able to walk a mile after a week, and I was able to go to graduation and walk on the stage without any help."
Elilta has since found out that she has post-traumatic stress disorder. Though she saw multiple counselors while still in the hospital, she feels that much of her healing has best been done on her own.
In October she became involved with the Brady Campaign, speaking for tighter gun-control laws.