Lena McDonald

Virtual reality has long fascinated dreamers, scientists, and storytellers alike. For centuries, humans have imagined stepping outside the bounds of the physical world, into spaces limited only by imagination. Today, that dream is not only possible but increasingly commonplace. With the simple act of putting on a headset, anyone can be transported to a different city, a different planet, or even a different body.

A Henry Ford College (HFC) student sat in her car in a parking lot off Telegraph Road. Her heart was pounding, and she was sweating as she faced a feeling of her impending doom. According to the Mayo Clinic, panic disorder “involves repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).” By definition, the student was experiencing a panic attack. That student in the parking lot was me.

Mirror News Editor in Chief: Alex Gray Friday, March 6, 2026