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May 14, 2009 - By Zara Wadood
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Shin's brother Samuel Sung-Jae Shin passed away on Wednesday, April 22 when he was struck and killed by a Metrolink train crossing Jackson Street near Arlington High School.
Shin was taken out of her second period by a campus aid and taken to her counselor's office where she sat there nervously waiting for someone to inform her about what had happened.
"I don't remember who told me but someone said, ' There's been an accident,' at first I thought something happened to my dad but then they told me, ' Your brother has died.' I immediately started crying. I mean, it was a rational response ... I kept saying, ' Are you sure? Are you sure?'... I couldn't believe it,"
Shin was then taken to Arlington High School where she saw her father weeping. "It was the worst day of my life. I felt like there was nothing in my life. I felt like there was nothing in the world that could suppress that ... My dad was crying like there was no tomorrow .. I hate that day. It was terrible," said Shin.
Shin's friends were very comforting and helped her to cope with her loss. They all contributed several hours hand making several gifts for her including glass jars filled with paper origami and a large card with notes from fellow classmates. After school they visited Shin at her house and spent time comforting her and cheering her up.
There were several events held in order to raise several events held in order to raise money for the funeral which took place on April 28.
A candlelight and spaghetti dinner was held at Arlington high School on April 30. A car wash and bake sale was held in the back parking lot on May 2. Students also sold snacks during several boys' tennis games and went around campus carrying donation buckets.
Shin's church contributed tremendously for the funeral as it paid for the majority of it.
Shin remembers the last words she said to her brother the day of the accident. "I just came out of the shower and I was looking everywhere for my lotion so I ran into our room and woke up Sammy. I asked him if he knew where the lotion was and when he said 'no' I left the room."
Shin's brother was regarded by all who knew him as a kind person. "Sammy was a really nice and sweet kid. I didn't think there was a person as pure and as innocent as him. He had a really soft heart. When I would tell him to do the dishes he would yell, 'No, you do it!' and later he would do it because he would feel bad for yelling at me... We shared a bunk bed and when it was time to go to bed we would talk to each other. Sammy was always there to listen to me and cheer me up when I was down. He was always there for me," said Shin.
With the support of her friend and family Shin is ready to go back to her normal life. "It was what it was and there is nothing that is going to change that," said Shin.
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