When you find something funny that you think you shouldn’t find funny – just look over your shoulder and you’ll see or hear Anna with her patented/inimitable quick laugh and then cover her mouth because she feels guilty immediately. As she grew older she would occasionally just let her mouth hang ajar.

Banana. Your Presence is Infinite Space inside Infinite Space. Your formlessness is the True you. It’s the Truth inside every Body. Every Being. We are all this Formlessness and only this Formlessness. We are always with you. We just need to listen better and be more silent within. I love you – because you are me and I am you.

Posted by Nicholas Goldreich on Facebook

Kathy and I joined a silent meditation retreat in the Lucerne Valley. My stated intention for the retreat was to develop a peace beyond human understanding in regards to mi hija, Anna. The retreat, led by Reverend Michael, delivered so much on that intention.  The healing rock exercise really was transformational. 

• Imagine your challenge.
• Imagine someone who has mastered that same challenge.
• If you can imagine it in another it has at least a germ inside you.
• Use prayer and focus to make that germination grow and expand.
• Pray Meditate Contemplate Be.
• I feel I’m making progress on my journey. Thx for all those sending support.

Kevin Wilson – Via Facebook

Dear Kevin-

I have been wanting to reach out to you sooner but unsure of the words I would use, I am so sorry for your loss, I can only imagine what you have been through.  

When I heard of Anna’s passing I was heartbroken and definitely have shed many tears thinking of her.  I was her professor for 3 courses, she took two of my general chemistry courses (Chem. 6A and Chem. 6C) her freshman year and then my recombinant DNA lab (Chem. 109) during Winter quarter of this year.  The general chemistry courses have class sizes of over 400 students and I’m afraid I don’t remember specific things about Anna in those courses, except that I recognized her when she took Chem. 109. She was surprised when I told her I recognized her from freshman year.  She was a quiet student that did her work but kept to herself….which made her the type of student that I try to get to know more. Her lab partner Shih-ting Huang (he goes by Terry) was the opposite and had quite the personality. When I would walk into the lab through the main door, Anna and Terry’s bench was one of the first I would see and go up to.  I would often joke with Terry and give Anna a nudge to see if I made her smile – it took a couple times but eventually I could get her to laugh. By the end of the quarter I had her smiling at me when I would come in and we would both be joking with Terry.

The lab she was in was a smaller lab (only about 15 students) so they all got to know each other pretty well.  I have reached out to Terry and asked his permission to share his email with you, he has thanked me for asking and would be happy to talk with you.  His email is shh132@ucsd.edu.  The teaching assistant in charge of her lab would also be happy to talk to you and share anything he can, his name is Kyle Shumate and his email is ktshumat@ucsd.edu.  

I hope this information will give you some comfort to know that Anna was liked and respected by those around her.  She has touched our lives. I have her last lab report that she submitted on March 20th – if you would like me to mail it to you I would be happy to do so, I will just need your address.

You and your family will always be in my prayers and thoughts.

Sincerely,

UCSD Professor, Christina Johnson Via Email

Congratulations, Anna and Amanda! Today’s the day, you’re finally graduating! You both accomplished so much in your young years. It’s pretty incredible, really. I only wish you could be here to receive your degrees in person, to walk across the stage and celebrate with your class. It’s beautiful that @ucsandiego is releasing balloons when your names are called, but it’s nothing compared to having you here. We miss you, but we are so, so proud of you. Congratulations to heaven’s two newest college graduates ‍

Anna—BS in Pharmacological Chemistry. Had been accepted into the Peace Corps.

Amanda—BS in International Business. Had a position lined up working for Disney, also just earned her pilot’s license.

Madeline Haff Via Facebook

Dear Mr. Wilson,

Thank you for your email.  I am so saddened to learn of Anna’s passing and I want to wish you and Anna’s family my sincerest condolences in this difficult time. Unfortunately, I share with you the recent pain of loss. The winter quarter (the quarter Anna was my student) I had to cancel our second class because the father of my children (21 & 18) was fatally shot and his funeral was the day of our second class. The students of Soc127, including Anna, were extremely considerate and patient with me as I struggled through teaching so close to such a significant loss.

I did not have the privilege of getting to know Anna personally, however, I definitely remember and noticed her presence in my classroom. In fact, I was drawn to her face many times during lecture. In a sea of students who sadly spent class time to check their Facebook, instant message and complete online shopping, Anna was so attentive during my lecture that she stood out. I found myself making eye-contact with her throughout lecture and wondering what she thought of the material. She was a quiet student and always sat in the back of the class; I can not remember if she spoke up and shared with the entire class during the 10 weeks. However, I put students into small groups to work and as I walked around the class I could see that she engaged with her peers and had much to say about the topics we discussed. You mentioned that you read a draft of her final paper. I thought you may like to read her final submission; she earned a 92%. It is attached to this email. If I recall any additional thoughts or interactions I will share them with you.

I am pleased to hear that Anna and Amanda will be awarded posthumous degrees. I am not participating in commencement this year, however, I have already sent and will continue to send love and light to Anna and Amanda. I will also keep you in my thoughts and I send you strength as you begin the journey of processing your grief and loss. I wish I had words to make it better, but I know all too well that there is nothing to lessen the pain. I do not know your faith or belief systems so I do not wish to offend, but I want to share that I believe the father of my children is still with us.

He is not here in body as we want him to so desperately be, but he is present in the endless amount of butterflies, hummingbirds, or the mysterious coins that show up in my path every day. It gives me comfort to notice these signs of his presence in my life and I share it with you as perhaps a source of comfort; that Anna- your purpose- is watching over you now.

Peace and be well. <3

UCSD Professor, Heidi Schneider Via Email

Dear Professors Toor, Rinehart, Galperin, Muendler, Lamey, Su, Johnson, Komives, and Schneider,

My name is Kevin Wilson, and I’m the father of Anna Wilson. You likely know that Anna was your student this academic year, and that she tragically passed away in a freak car accident in Mexico over spring break.  You can read my initial story of her passage here: https://bit.ly/2J85SmN

Each of you share something that is unfortunate, and on March 28th, I joined a club that is without doubt the worst club ever.  It’s a tough journey indeed. And I would be remiss if I didn’t express gratitude for the grace I have found over the last 2 ½ months — including UCSD’s decision to award posthumous degrees to Anna and a best friend, Amanda Korbas (who also passed in the accident).  I am grateful to Kafele Khalfani, Dean of Students for Warren College for providing me your email addresses. Many know that I’m on a search for answers to why, and I think that search has led me to write this email.

I don’t really have a specific question to ask you.  I do know that each of you touched Anna in special ways that likely you are not aware.  I know many of your classes had large enrollments, and Anna prided herself in being somewhat anonymous while trying her best amidst the sea of students. It would not surprise me if you do not remember her distinctly, or perhaps just her face might ring a bell.

With no expectations or pressure, I would welcome any comments or observations about Anna or your classes.  I know in past years she struggled with labs but was particularly fond of her most recent lab class (is that Chem109?), and especially loved the way she “jelled” with her lab partner (with whom I haven’t been able to find unfortunately). I enjoyed reading a draft of her Soc127 final paper which we found in her car. I sense she liked econ more after Econ102, and I still wonder about her sanity for taking so much chemistry in those last two quarters especially with such bright competitive science students surrounding her.  In the end, she seemed to end up just fine and I’ll just have to remain mystified at the meaning of the chemical model diagram on her laptop.

Please accept my gratitude for your service and your teachings.  I’m proud that Anna chose to be at UCSD, and I’m proud of what she learned and who she became largely because of her professors and fellow students.

If you participate in commencement this week, I hope you send a prayer or warm thought out to Anna and Amanda as their names are called.

Vaya con dios.

Kevin Wilson, Anna’s dad.

Kevin Wilson Via Facebook