Challenging Obstacle

Ray Pyle
November 18, 2012
Essay #5
College Entry Essay
9:40-Sect. 46; 11:10-Sect. 69

Most Challenging Obstacle: The Death of My Father Most people would say that high school and resisting peer pressure would be the most difficult task that they have ever faced. Well the most challenging obstacle that I had to overcome was the death of my father. My life was turned upside down when it all happened. It greatly impacted me on a physical and mental level. Luckily this challenge taught me to cherish life. It even brought me closer to God and to understand that he has a plan for all of us. It pushed me to become more determined and motivated in any activity I partake in. Our family is much closer now then we were before. His death opened my eyes and my mind to accept the idea that you must live life to the fullest. Not only did it teach me to live life but it showed me how to be confident, strong, respectable to everyone and everything, and how to appreciate the little things in life. This would definitely be the hardest obstacle that I ever had to face in my life. Ever since that faithful day my views on life have changed dramatically. Now I have become more an optimistic individual. Yes, I am more optimistic because now I see the true beauty of the world that I always overlooked. When I see pictures of nature it releases a feeling of sanctity or even solace. I don’t take life for granted anymore, now I strongly believe that every life is precious even the pesky bugs. His leaving revealed that instead of rushing life I should stop every once in a while and take a gander at nature. Like a moment to soak it all in and embrace the true beauty that so much people fail to see. Now I live in the moment instead of worrying what the future brings. This ordeal has brought me a lot more near to God. In my prayers I learned that God needed him and that my father had fulfilled his purpose. I know it sound cliché but it is the truth and no one can tell me differently. Instead of resorting to drug I turned to God and he helped me through the pain. In a way God has taken the role of a fatherly figure and I am grateful. I go to church more often and I feel more alive and refreshed. This trial has shown me the love that God has to offer and how he will take care of you when your love ones are gone. God has become an important factor in my life after my dad died. My determination is at the highest point it could be. I have this motivation to strive to become the best I can. I do these things to make my father proud and to honor his legacy. To be honest, if my father was alive today I wouldn’t have fathom the idea of taking Advanced Placement courses. I would have relied on my dad to do everything for me including finding and paying for my college. Now I can proudly say that with this newfound determination I can succeed on my own. For once in my life I am actually studying and pushing myself to the limit on how much I can learn and retain. I was able to turn such a negative situation into a positive by using it to fuel my dreams. When all was finished this traumatic event created a feeling of togetherness. Our family became tighter and closer together. Now we set up family nights where it would either be Mexican night meaning we make Mexican dishes or game night where we battle it out on the Wii. On certain Saturday’s we all would go out to any restaurant mostly Chili’s and sit-down and talk about how our week was. In a sense we come together and evaluate our week and sometimes we even reminisce about him. It is better to remember the good times than to remember what happened that cold December night. His death brought our family together and taught individual to enjoy the times we have left on Earth because you never know when it is your time. The experience I gained was how to be confident in everything I do. I learned how to be strong in times of great distress. I now have the utmost respect for every living thing. Also, his death allowed me to see how important life is and how we must make the most of it. You always live like it is you last day and always be willing to aid those in need. My father passing away gave me lesson that I hope to pass onto my children. Seeing my father go would have to be the hardest thing that I ever had to overcome. Thanks to God I am standing here stronger than ever. Instead of using this as an excuse I am using this as fuel to empower me. This situation has impacted me physical and mental but I won’t ever let it hold me down. In my heart I know that my father will never accept less so I will aim for the highest peak and ride it out to the end.