My Seventh Grader At Cedar Ridge Middle School

I was a seventh-grader at Cedar Ridge Middle School and I was in the prime years of my life. I had just made the tennis team, I was in higher level classes, and I was making new friends every day. I felt like I already knew what it was like to live. There came a day, though, that I became unsure of who I was and if I was doing the right things. The reason for this was a boy named Ryan, and little did I know that he was going to impact my life in ways that I would never have thought of. He was not like all of the other kids; he did not talk much and was special needs due to his case of epilepsy. I knew him but we were not friends. He was in a few of my classes but I did not find it important to initiate a conversation. However, I began to
The class of 2018 was called into the commons area, most of us expecting a lecture on manners or something we found irrelevant. When the principal finally got us quiet and settled, he spoke words that I will never forget. "Today I am sorry to say I have some devastating news", she said. "Ryan Davis, your fellow classmate, passed away last night". The whole room went silent and all I could hear was the beat of my racing heart. It took a long period of time for those words to actually make sense to me. I felt like time was frozen. Was I dreaming? When the silence of the room was broken by the explosion of murmurs and the faint sound of sobs, I knew it was
The passing of my friend made me stronger. He was so quiet yet he made the biggest impact on my life. I questioned if I should even try to befriend him; however, I am who I am now because he was my friend. I was so blessed to have known him during his time here with me. I believe a life well lived does not mean a long life. Treating everyone with kindness and love is the key to a blissful life. Ryan is the reason I have grown to be the kindhearted person I am today. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for my friendship with him and for the friendships I have now. I have learned that as time goes by, the pain we endure is only meant to show us the important things in life and better our hearts so we can share our love and kindness with the people in need of