In light of the attack at NIU, or at Virginia Tech, or even back to Columbine, one thing becomes startlingly clear.

These incidents are mirrors of the best and worst of humanity.

It cannot be definitively known what leads someone to load up on semi-automatics and blast their classmates and teachers, though news organizations spend hours on conjecture as to why.

The majority of information about the NIU shooting focuses on Steven Kazmierczak’s actions and motivations and there is little information on any acts of heroism.

However, in the wake of this tragedy, we can look at the Virginia Tech shootings to see how people rise in the face of terror.  There are moments when the best of what mankind has to offer is demonstrated.

Professor Liviu Librescu, an Israeli-American scientist who survived the Holocaust, held the door of his classroom, Room 204, shut while Cho attempted to enter it.

Librescu was able to prevent the shooter from entering the classroom until most of his students escaped through the windows, but he died after being shot multiple times through the door.  One student in his classroom died.

Jocelyne Couture-Nowak tried to save the students in her French classroom, Room 211, after looking Cho in the eye in the hallway.  Colin Goddard, one of seven survivors in the French class, told his family that Couture-Nowak ordered her students to the back of the class for their safety and made a fatal attempt to barricade the door.

Student Henry Lee was also killed while trying to help Professor Couture-Nowak barricade the door.

Hearing the commotion on the floor below, Professor Kevin Granata brought 20 students from a nearby classroom into an office, where the door could be locked, on the third floor of Norris Hall.

He then went downstairs to investigate and was shot by Cho. Granata died from his injuries.  None of the students locked in Granata’s office were injured.

In the face of the negative media onslaught, it is easy to think that people and society are in a constant decline.

But for every story on price gouging and violence during a hurricane’s aftermath, there are 100 of how neighbors came together and helped each other.  For every story of police misconduct, there are many more of heroism and bravery in the line of fire.  For every story of a teacher abusing their students, there are the legions of unthanked and unappreciated teachers who have made the difference.

To all the people who faced horror and became heroes, we honor you.