Life Changing Event

Kelsey Kryjewski
Professor Strauwald
English 50 Essay #1, Revised
11 February 2013
Life Changing Event Throughout my life I can definitely say that I have one life-changing event that rises above the rest. In my junior year of high school, 2008, a very close friend of mine, Renay, passed away unexpectedly. At only 16, she fell victim to a drunk driving accident. Renay was a dear friend to me. We had a special friendship and connection we shared through dance and sports. I miss the days when life was simple; we would go to the mall to hangout and shop for shoes. This was one of our favorite things to do together. One year for her birthday, which happened to coincide with spring break, she and her family went down to Rosarito. Three days before her birthday she and her cousin were driving back to their hotel from a restaurant where her cousin was drinking. As they were driving in Rosarito there are very winding roads. Renay’s cousin was speeding and lost control of the vehicle, unfortunately going down a cliff. The morning I got the call saying she was in an accident and didn’t make it was the day my life had changed, I remember falling to the ground in tears thinking is this an awful dream I will eventually wake up from. The answer was no, she was gone and I would never be able to hold or hug her again. Joseph T. O’Connor explains in his article “A view from Mount Ritter” “It’s funny how these memories keep coming back to me as if it were just yesterday”(13). I agree with O’Connor there is not a day that passes by that I do not think of Renay and her tragic loss. My friends and I did so many fundraisers to help her family bring her body back from Rosarito. We were able to help her family tremendously. Her funeral was in Ohio where she was originally from, the car ride up to Ohio from San Diego was quit and sad because we all knew with everything we did to help her family would not bring back our sweet Renay. As a result of the death of my best friend, I have learned to live every day to the fullest and have done so by appreciating the people in my life and the opportunities presented. I have learned so much in life having to deal with this tragic experience at such a young age. I now look at life in a different aspect and I cherish all the people I have in my life because I never will know when they will be taken from me. Each night before I fall asleep I think of my parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. I send them love, positive thoughts and blessings. I do this with my boyfriend daily. I’ve learned to associate with things I do so it’s a constant reminder. For example, I become grateful for his presence in my life when I fold his clothes or do the dishes. I truly believe that Renay was taken too soon and she is my guardian angel watching down protecting me. Also, I now take the time out to acknowledge the love I have for all my family and friends and don’t let it go unspoken. I will always take time out of my busy schedule to tell the people that are closest to me how much I care and appreciate them. I have learned that it is not worth the time to argue over something so menial because in the end, it won’t matter and what does matter is the time spent with that person. For example, my boyfriend and I sometimes get into arguments or disagreements with each other and I realize in the middle of it wow why are we wasting our time arguing when this will not get us anywhere and will only make our relationship unhappy. We both decide its not worth the time and give up because it’s more important to enjoy the time spent together. I have realized that so many things are taken for granted when we are at such a young age. Since then I have given more thought about the relationships with my family, and the bond between my father and I has become so much stronger. For example, my father does all he can to help me out such as let me stay at his house, cooks for me, picks me up if I need him to and is constantly checking in just to make sure I am safe and doing okay.
I also take every opportunity I am given and learn and run with it. For example I had the chance to go to New York City on dance scholarship at Alvin Ailey I had some hesitation on it because I’m not a huge fan of traveling and airplane rides, but I looked back on this and decided to go because I remembered Renay and I needed to live life to the fullest. This oppurtunity was presented to me right after the loss of Renay, it was hard for me to make the decision of taking such a great chance to learn and expand on one of my true passions of dance which I shared with Renay after such a tragic, unexpected and untimely passing of my best friend. I am so glad that I did decide to go to New York City because I can honestly say it was one of my happiest and most memorable experiences I have ever endeavored. O’Connor also states “Thanks to that morning’s conversion, I am a new person.” (14). I felt the same way due to the fact that I started to view life in a different way after Renay’s sudden loss. Due to the untimely death of my best friend, some good has become of it. Her death has taught me to cherish every moment and not let my familial relationships be taken for granted. In honor of her passing I have wanted to become an advocate against drunk driving, and have done so by sharing this experience of mine with my peers and discussing how incredibly important it is to never get behind the wheel after drinking or getting in a car with someone else who has been drinking, because it is not worth risking or loosing a life over. I hope that the pain of Renay’s family has not been in vain and that everyone can learn from this tragedy and live each and everyday to the fullest.