I believe in second chances. I believe God has a purpose in every life. Life should be lived without regret. Fear keeps us from doing things we wish to experience. Although one might wish they hadn’t decided to pull that one senior prank, or go to that certain party, they lived their life how they wanted to. I want to live my life to the fullest. As a teenager, I swore to myself that I was not invincible. I told myself that things can happen good or bad no matter how many people I please or how many good deeds I do. Being a seventeen year old living in a small town, it was hard to convince myself that life has a chance of ending no matter what the age.
I believe that last September when my favorite middle school teacher died, I appreciated my life and all the things in it so much more. My friends, my teachers, my family, and all of the things I had been given over the years. Mrs. Anderson was my inspiration to challenge myself and live my life. She loved everyone and every time I saw her, she had a huge welcoming smile on her face. Without her so many students would be lost, including me. She helped me become who I am today.
I believe last December was my epiphany. It was my second chance at life. It showed me that the way I was living wasn’t what I wanted to be remembered by if my life had suddenly ended. The day before exams was a day I will always remember. I was driving my best friend, Emily, to school just like any other day. The sun was a lot brighter than usual on highway 53 and my windshield was foggier but I thought it was no big deal. Little did I know that my defroster wasn’t working, and when the sun hits a fogged window you cannot see anything. While I was slowing down and trying to find a good place to pull off the road I hit a car going forty-five miles an hour. I completely destroyed the back end of their car. During the accident I prayed like I never prayed before. I prayed for my sister, my family, and my best friend sitting beside me. I had never felt so vulnerable in my entire life. I prayed that God would give me a second chance. When my car came to a stop, I was no longer on the road, I was in the Washington Farms field, I was sitting there with tears falling down my face, staring at my airbags. The last thing I remember in my car was the fear in my best friend’s eyes.
I believe when my car finally stopped and I saw the telephone pole I should have hit, God was giving me a second chance and I can’t let him down.