Dan Zamlen

Yesterday my day was nothing compared to the parents of University of St. Thomas Freshman Dan Zamlen. Dan, who had been missing for 27 days, was finally found in the Mississippi River at the Ford Bridge, a few blocks away from where he went missing.

I have no inkling as to what the parents are enduring at this moment in time, I would imagine it's a mixture of sadness, anger, confusion, and closure. I keep them in my thoughts and prayers and hope that we can all learn a few valuable lessons from this sad tragedy.

For more information check out the St. Thomas Aquin for a press release AND video.

The first is to appreciate and love those close to you while you can. We don't know if we have tomorrow, so we should cherish those we love while we have them, and let them know we care for them.

The second is a little more far fetched, but hopefully people start to understand if they are drinking they need to watch out for each other, because I know underaged drinking won't stop. But don't let your friend walk out of a party by themselves. Don't let them make decisions out of anger when they are intoxicated. The buddy system was designed to make sure your friend gets out alive, without making bad decisions. To avoid bad hook ups, not being injured, and hopefully still alive.