Matt's Shanghai

Julie Katherine Nagel

Hey friends--

On Saturday morning, I woke up to an e-mail from a friend about a car accident on 421. At first I didn't want to believe that this was happening. I spent the day upset at myself for not being able to be in North Carolina with everyone else during this time. As many of you have already found out from friends, Julie Nagel, a good friend of mine and of many of you, was injured in the accident on Friday afternoon going home to Maryland for fall break and left us last Saturday morning.

It's hard to believe it was over a year ago when l met her for the first time in Room 143 of Dougherty Hall. Julie was someone that many of you remembered from the first time you met her. She was certainly a friend to so many people at Appalachian and I hope that many of you have at least one fond memory of a time you shared with her. Maybe it was just her presence in the room or her laughter and smile. Whatever it may be, I hope your memories of her will give you comfort in this time of reflection.

I remained close friends with Julie since last December when class ended and watched her struggle and watched her grow so much as a person in just one year. I will miss her one of a kind personality. There have been few people in this world that broke the mold quite like Julie Nagel. I miss my friend that filled one place that no one else will quite fill again.

The coming weeks will be the hardest for those of you who saw Julie day to day. I might seem a world away, but please send an e-mail or an IM if you need to talk. I ask that you all keep Julie's family in your thoughts and prayers in the weeks and months ahead.

posted by Matt Dull @ 3:31 PM