ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands of FSU students were on campus during Thursday's shooting and have been sharing their experiences.

Orlando native Madalyn Propst was on the other side of campus when Phoenix Ikner started firing but says she was just an hour away from having class right by the Student Union.

What You Need To Know

  • Two people are dead and 6 others are injured after a shooting at FSU's campus in Tallahassee

  •  FSU freshman Madalyn Propst was on campus during the shooting but was on the opposite side of campuus

  •  Propst shares her experience as well as stories from her classmates and friends who hid from the violence

  • All FSU classes and activities have been cancelled Friday April 18

She says she’s worried for her classmates and wonders if this incident will provoke change.

“I really don’t know how to feel. I’m just kind of numb if I’m being honest,” Propst shared.

Propst couldn’t find the words to express what happened on her campus Thursday.

But unfortunately, the FSU Freshman says gun violence is nothing new to her.

“My real first memory of school was gun violence with Sandy Hook and I’m from Orlando and I have family who are a part of the LGBTQ community and they were very good friends with people in the Pulse nightclub shooting,” explained Propst.

Madalyn says it made her nervous to learn that an active shooter was near where her classes usually are.

And even though she was safe on the other side of campus, the political science major says she immediately called and texted her classmates to make sure they were okay.

“I have one very good friend who I texted in the middle of it,” Propst said. “Like as soon as I got the alert because I checked her location and she was in a building next to the union and her professor didn’t know what to do so she had to tie the bathroom doors shut with a laptop charger and her sweater.”

But she says she hasn’t heard back from everyone yet, which makes her worried they may be hurt.

“People were running around crazy, there were stampedes and people got hurt in stampedes,” explained Propst. “And if we just had a little bit more foresight to have, like some sort of protocol, have people know where to go in case of something like this and that could have been avoided.”

And while she hopes to see a change through legislation, all she can do is think of those who were injured and urging everyone to appreciate their loved ones.

“Really make sure that you’re calling your mom. Tell her you love her. Call your friends and tell them you love them and make sure next time you see your friends hug them a little extra tight cause you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” said Propst.

As a political science major Propst says she hopes to continue to lobby at the state capitol for change, especially for FSU students who may have also been a part of the Parkland shooting in 2018.

Madalyn says she hopes to fight against bills like House Bill 579, which would change the legal age to buy guns from 21 to 18.

HB759 passed in the house, and is now in front of the senate.