After Providence College study-abroad student Arlin Baez lived through the November attacks in Paris, she had a hard time returning to the United States.

“I really felt connected to the community and culture there,” said the 21-year-old French and political-science double major. “I felt hurt, but the whole community felt hurt together. We all mourned together.”

And hearing that families celebrating Bastille Day were the target of yet another bloody attack, she wished she could go back. If only to remind friends there that she loves them, she said.

Baez on Friday offered her perspective on terrorism and national security in a telephone interview from her home in Salem, Mass.

During the fall, she interned in the communications department at the Ministry of the Interior, in Paris. The experience was “life-changing,” she said.

“You don’t realize how much responsibility you have until the responsibility needs to be taken,” she said.

In the wake of the Nov. 13 attacks, in which gunmen killed 130 people and injured more than 300, she helped write social-media posts and press releases that shared tips on surviving a terror attack. And mostly, she watched in awe as her idyllic version of Paris changed before her eyes.

The country is in a state of emergency, and has been since November. This gives police more power and citizens feel it everywhere, Baez said.

Police monitor everything and search bags at random in local stores. Large billboards remind residents to be vigilant. A constant darkness looms over the city, she said.

But seeing the French unite against the negativity inspired her to keep going, she said.

“The French are the French ... they continue to drink and smoke and have a good time,” she said. “They are very brave and it’s amazing to see these people go out and do their job every day and be optimistic about it. I’ll never forget that.”

The world could learn from this attitude, she said.

“There is power in love,” Baez said. “More than there is power in hate.”

jtempera@providencejournal.com 401-277-7121 On Twitter: @jacktemp