To the Editor:

A child is the symbol not only of their parents' love, but a symbol of their parents' hopes, expectations, and dreams. As a Nigerian child, I grew up with the notion that children are born to surpass their parents in knowledge, strength, character, and talent. This is a doctrine cherished in all Nigerian families and other immigrant families, who make the journey to the Western world in search of their "piece of the pie."

Many of us in the United States have discovered that the pie is not so easy to cut. Death is always a looming possibility, which we constantly try to avoid. However, strange as it is, death catches up to us.

Some deaths are expected, others surprising. Some are peaceful, others wrought with pain. The worst death is that of a child, the end of a parent's hopes and dreams.

The death of 20 year-old Franklyn Nwachukwu is so far the worst death in Boston this summer and the worst death experienced by Massachusetts' Nigerian community. His death did come as a surprise, it was terribly painful, and it was the death of a very promising child.

Franklyn was shot on the evening of July 15, 2005 in the usually quiet neighborhood of Hyde Park. After being rushed to Brigham and Women's hospital, he passed away that very same night. The police called his attack an attempted robbery by a group of three young men, who fled the scene on foot immediately after the shooting. The investigation is still ongoing.

In their "attempted robbery," the assailants have stolen a son, brother, friend, and student from the Nwachukwu family and the greater Boston community. This precious young man was a third year Nursing Student at UMASS Amherst, who had been working extremely hard to pay his way through school. He was not a bad kid, from a bad neighborhood engaging in unacceptable behavior. Such misleading stereotypes force us to often desensitize ourselves to the victims of heinous crimes, allowing us to believe that they deserved to die.

Numerous initiatives have been blooming all over the city to curtail violence carried out mainly by teenagers and young adults during the summer months. Franklyn's death is an eye- opener for many people who felt they could avoid bullets by always being in the right place at the right time. We are all learning that life can never be so predictable.

Our faith urges us to believe that things happen for a reason greater than life on earth, but we must always ask, "Why?" Even if Franklyn and other young adults across the country are chosen to make their journey out of this world, why is it that a fellow peer must make them suffer in the most unimaginable way before their departure?

Questions linger and still there are limited answers. But to immerse yourself in questioning is to allow yourself to only remember Franklyn for the way he died. The most important thing to remember is the way he lived. Even for those who are hearing his name for the first time, the image of this child of immigrants full of hopes and dreams, who devoted himself to giving his family the opportunity to enjoy their piece of the pie, is enough for you to hold on to.

Franklyn is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Obiora Nwachukwu and his younger sisters, Adora and Obiamaka.

- Chiazor A. N. Okagbue

The Franklyn Nwachukwu Memorial Fund is currently accepting donations to aid the Nwachukwu family as it prepares to escort Franklin's body to Nigeria for a proper burial. Please make checks payable to: The Franklyn Nwachukwu Memorial Fund. Donations and correspondence should be sent to the following address: Franklin Nwachukwu Memorial Fund, 253 Margaretta Drive, Hyde Park, MA 02136. For further information please contact N.T. Izuchi at 617-512-8180.