5 Reasons to Live
Reasons to keep living.
When you think the wrong choice is right.
Terrible things happen to wonderful people. People who deserve the best. Trust me I have been the one to question why bad things happen, but they definitely do happen for a reason. I believe that horrible things happen because they make us stronger and more experienced. When I lost my favorite person in the world, my grandma, I hated everything and everybody. We were very close and despite all my flaws, she was always there to guide me and love me. Then suddenly she was gone and it was up to me to be my own savior and become stronger. To make matters worse, I was moving to a new school with strange people that I didn't know. Although I did meet the most important people that are now my best friends. Without them who knows what would have happened to me, but thankfully they were put in my life. Trust me I know what it's like creeping close to the edge of wanting to die and give up, but it's important to find someone who gives you hope and lifts you out of the darkness. I want to be that person to somebody in need.
Reason 1 - How would my death make my friends and family feel? (Pathos)
In Tears of a Tiger after Andy's suicide, Rhonda wanted to know what he was thinking while holding the gun ready to end it all. I feel the same. I wouldn't be able to kill myself and not consider the effect it would have on my friends or family. Would they do the exact same thing I did? I know that if I was one of Andy's friends I would blame myself for not being able to help him. I believe that the people who need help the most are scared to get help and they are just waiting for one person to make another day livable. It's important to be that kind of person to someone who is dying a little everyday. Maybe you can't save everyone, but one person can make a difference. Think of your friends and family, how would they feel if you left?
Juliet and I
Juliet was one of my first friends I made after moving to Scottsburg. I remember our first conversation as we walked to New Tech. Little did I know that we would have plenty of more adventures after that. We have done plenty of firsts together and I'm overly excited for the rest to come. I couldn't survive without you. Thank you Juliet for being my best friend and for always making me smile.
Taylor's and I Sunshine adventure.
I remember how I thought you didn't like me but thanks to Taylor Mihalik's birthday party that I found out you thought the same thing! I'm so happy that we have become as close as we have. Thank you for always having my back and supporting me through dysfunctional family fights and boy drama.
My favorite red head.
Ariel, I'm not entirely sure where to begin. I guess I should start with thank you for making my love for dance grow and all the fun times in geometry class. (I'm sure we drove Mr. DePriest crazy). If it wasn't for you, I'm sure I would be stuck in a shell of insecurity that would take me forever to get out of. We have thousands of inside jokes that no one else would get and just thinking of them makes me laugh every time. I'm positive it would be hard for me to live without you. Thank you for making me more confident and always making me genuinely happy.
Reason 2 - To accomplish a dream (Logos)
I want to be able to keep living to accomplish my dream that has already taken so much work. Everybody has dreams and goals that are inside their heads. Wouldn't you feel great if you finally tackled your goals and dreams? My dream is to become a teacher who not only helps a student comprehend school subjects better, but someone that they can talk to when they feel like no one else will. It's very important for teachers to be close to their students. It not only makes them care more about the class, but it might save a student's life. Teacher's see their students for an hour a day every week. Who knows what goes on at home, but if you can make part of their day better then it's worth it. If I committed suicide, my dream wouldn't ever come true. Suicide has many horrible side effects and not being able to fulfill your dreams is a big one.
Reason 3 - To pursue the chance of truly being happy (Ethos)
In Tears of a Tiger Andy would never know what it's like to truly be happy. Maybe if he didn't commit suicide and he won the difficult battle that was killing him, he would have the chance of being happy. Maybe that person to make him happy would be Keisha, but we don't know. If you decided that it was time to end your life, think of the things and people that make you happy. I know what it's like to feel alone in the dark and wondering if people will ever come to show you into the light. I used to be friends with people who treated me like I wasn't there and I felt invisible and lonely. I made the choice to make better friends and put myself in more positive situations.
Reason 4 - To be able to keep dancing (Pathos)
I love to dance. I love dancing with my friends. For me, dancing is a way for me to escape from everything weighing me down yet be able to express my emotions because of them. I remember watching other people dance and think how it made me more confident to inspire other people to dance. If it was my end I wouldn't be able to inspire other people to find a way to express themselves. My friends also make dancing more special for me. Recently we had our 3rd annual dance recital and without my friends there it would have been a more stressful event instead of exciting. I dance to feel alive and if I couldn't do that I would be lost.
Dance friends
Gabby, Halle, me, and Ariel support each other not only at our dance recital but all of the time. If it wasn't for them the recital would have been stressful.
Russian Marzipan
Halle, Ariel, and I's trio dance to Russian Marzipan from the Nutcracker at our dance recital May 30th.
The one who made it possible
If it wasn't for our dance teacher, Leafy, this whole dance recital wouldn't have been possible. Thank you for making me love dance even more and giving me the strength to do so.
Reason 5 - To make the world a better place (Logos)
The last reason for me to keep living is to make the world a more happy and considerate place. If there are more people in the world who are kind to others, less tragedy would happen. I want to be the person who can inspire others to be a better person. One small act of kindness can change a person's whole life and from there they can help others. So one person definitely does make a difference. It's important to have the courage to speak out and be kind to others.
Don't give up
I know many people want to give up when times gets tough but you can't let small things that won't matter later get you down. Chances are that there are many people around you that you don't know are struggling. They want help, they are just too scared to ask for it. In my French class we just watched the movie Les Misérables and we talked about how the main character got a second chance when he least expected it. Because of that second chance he helped other people. Just a smile at a stranger in the hallway at school can save a life.