The Greatest Gift Of Life

At twenty-two years old my younger-self had previously pictured me in an entirely different place. I never imagined living in Texas, I’m originally from Chicago, and that’s where I thought I would reside. I thought I’d be graduated from college already, but fate had a different plan. And never in a million years did I think I would become a drug addict; but I am, and you know what? It’s been the best thing that has ever happened to me, it’s something I’m truly thankful for now. See, all the things listed above may seem like negative things if you look at them from an outside perspective; however to me, they’ve changed me in ways I never thought possible just six months ago. Multiple circumstances have led me to this point, but a few stick

I am from Manson, Iowa. A small town outside the more known town, Fort Dodge. I was born into a family that keeps together even though we are states apart. My mother was the one who raised me, I may know my biological father's name, but I don’t know his story and why he didn’t want to partake in my life. This has never stopped me from expressing myself in ways that was different from the people in my hometown. I would quietly listen to the teacher and doodle in my notebooks, causing me to not pay attention as well as I should have. Growing up however I was a loud kid, I was well known among my friends. I had a large variety of acquaintances but I had one best friend who I could never replace. She understood me like no other, people thought

In life, people can gain friends quickly, but what no one talks about is that they can lose them just as fast. I learned how quickly a friendship can begin and end about two years ago. In August of 2013 a girl named Moriah Ebron was deemed my best friend. She lived in Delaware while I was all the way in West Virginia. That was a small challenge, but we made it work. We were able to visit each other and have an amazing friendship, but suddenly, something went terribly wrong. Never had I realized how fast friendships can end until I became friends with Moriah Ebron. This is an epic story of friendships and trials as well as love and hate. This is all about how I gained and lost a best friend in the same amount of time, and how that shaped me as a person.

After turning age 18 and being sent out into the world of adulthood, I led a very reckless path. I was always the “good kid” when I was young, the teacher’s pet, the boy who every parent wanted their child to be. However, in late adolescence, something changed, that I couldn’t control.

My newfound friend and I were immediately lifelong best friends--we spent hours making cheerleading routines on the trampoline and creating movie trailers and music videos. By eighth grade, our quick friendship became a stronger bond, where we could comfortably share our most personal secrets. As we relaxed on the trampoline with the warm August sun radiating onto our faces, Annabelle confided in me the story that launched her impact on my future.

As the years come along one after another people have come in and out of my life, but at the end of the day it all comes down to what I did?, what will I do?, and what can I do? Sometimes you will ask yourself if what you do is even valuable and sometimes it might seem like it doesn’t, but truly deep down it is and will always be. Throughout this journey, I have faced many obstacles and will still need to face many more as the years come. However, one thing I won’t regret is making

Like all kids my age, I’ve dreamed of success. I always subconsciously wanted to be known or be recognized for something. However, it was clear that I set up my life in a way that was inconceivable. My daily behavior revolved around apprehension. But, after reading this book, I reevaluated my attitude toward life. I didn’t have an immediate revelation, but it was clear that my personality was formed solely by negativity. In my mind, I was just a teenager “being myself,” but this was not going to give me the fulfillment that I envisioned. Deep down, I wanted to explore. I wanted to see new places and meet new people. However, I was set up as someone that will have a life that would be dictated by the fear of uncertainty. After this realization, it was clear I had two

For a short period of time, I didn’t even recognize who I was. I was acting out in ways I did not enjoy, dressed in styles I didn’t agree with, and created a personality that I thought would make me more popular. I tried so hard to be the superficial person people wanted me to be, because I valued their opinions more than my own. One of the best decisions I ever made for myself was when I made a new group of friends. I was able to act and look like my true self and they accepted me for me.

She put her lunch tray on the table, plopped her backpack on the floor, and sat down across from me. She started to eat the mac and cheese on her plate (51).” When Auggie was hurt he clung to the only people he knew were true friends to him. He is lucky to have Summer, having a Summer in high school would have meant everything to me, as it does to Auggie. Summer saw Auggie for who he truly was, she did not see just his difference she saw him. She saw how smart he was, how nice he was to her. She saw his humor and his pain, she just wanted to be the best person she could be for him and that was a friend. A friend is something you should never take for granted. Someone to lean on, to confess to, and to be silly with. I never had friends like that. My friends talked behind my back to my sister about me, telling her how annoying I was or they couldn’t understand why I thought the way I did. They told my sister not to let me go to a certain college so they didn’t have to “take care” of me for four more years. I didn’t have friends in high school, I had acquaintances, because I was different. The people in my life never even said bye to me when I left for college that is when I started to truly see how I was treated. It took me until I went away to college to find someone like Summer. To find someone who would constantly be there for me whenever I need them and to laugh

I’ve always been an outsider, it’s been hard for me to build friendships and relationships. Not too long ago, there I sat in the corner of the room in the way back, trying to hide from the world, and be myself. I didn’t really want to get involved with anything or anyone. I was afraid to open up, talk to others, maybe because I was afraid to get rejected. Until, I met the best people I could ever meet, my best friends Marisa Mendoza, Jessica Contreras and Deseray Reyes, the ones who up to this day have sticked by my side, at my best, and worst moments. They have all been a big part of my life, I can enjoy every minute I spend with them. For me, they aren’t only my friends they are like my sisters.

The school year approached its end. Another summer to spend alone by myself. The cycle had been repeating since I was in grade school. Sadness choked me as I returned home and shut my door. Every year, the resolution was the same: I would try to make friends next year; however, every year, I felt myself falling back down into the same trap. By the time high school began, I no longer felt the numb sensation of sadness or the flow of tears as the final day of May became the last day I talked with my “friends.” I no longer expected to make any friends, or, more accurately, I no longer expected to be able to make any friends. The sheer possibility of befriending an individual appeared to me as foreign as speaking in latin. When I walked into school, what should have been a site of chatter, opportunity, and growth appeared to me as a form of imprisonment and torture; however, unbeknownst to me, I did have friends; something of which I did not recognize until years passed by. I grown attached to certain conversations; there were times where I felt the need to initiate a conversation rather than waiting for someone else to make one. It was not until one of my friends told me,”We’re your friends aren’t we?” when I realized I was not longer

I have something I need to tell you. It feels weird announcing this, because nothing has changed. I feel exactly as I’ve always felt, and I’m still the same person I’ve always been, I’ve just accepted a few things. It  almost feels pointless to say, because it seems so obvious to me, but I think I should tell you anyway. I don’t know how exactly to explain myself, because it’s how I’ve always felt, but I’ll try help you to understand without writing down every thought I’ve ever had.

If you saw me how most people saw me, you would be too. But you don’t because you’ve only seen a part of me. You see what I mean?” That killed me. I thought about all the people I used to know. I thought I always did a pretty good job at being myself but I don’t remember at all, I really don’t. If I was less of myself and more of a phony then maybe all the other phonies would like me more, but I didn’t want to be a phony. I wanted to be me. Just then, the girl’s phone rang. It startled me and I nearly fell out of that goddam window. No kidding. She answered it and it turned out her sister and D.B.’s flight wasn’t as delayed as they thought it would be. I could hear the whole conversation because it was so goddam quiet where we were. When the call ended, the girl turned to me and smiled really nice and wide, which amused me. I was never really one to smile at all, but some part of me decided in that moment that I should smile right

Like a stray dog wandering the streets, I spent the first few years of my life not knowing exactly where I belonged. I drifted down the same roads seeking answers that I failed to find. I thought maybe I was just looking in all the wrong places. I was quite blind to all of my potential until the day I met Charity Filmore. From her physical appearance she can seem very intimidating, but underneath it all she is just a strong mentally as she is physically. When you watch her, she behaves as if her life is constantly going. She jumps from one adventure to the next. Charity Filmore has taught me many lessons over the years. She has encouraged me to never, ever give up on something I am determined to conquer, to never listen to those people who will always be in my life telling me I cannot accomplish my goals, and most importantly, to enjoy my life to the fullest extent. She was the one who sparked this crazy journey I call my adventure of life.

When I was in kindergarten, I met my best friend. She was very shy at first and nothing about her seemed malicious. However, as the years went by, she became very imperious and unwilling to share anything, including friends. She wouldn’t allow me to befriend any other people without putting up a fight. However, she was allowed all the friends she pleased. Over the years she began to push everyone apart so that she was the common area between a bunch of enemies. Eventually, she and I began to argue over petty things and she would always make me feel as if I did something wrong. A massive argument then arose and I began to lose hope for our friendship because even though she was using me, I was oblivious at the time. The fight did separate us, and I was quite somber about the situation. However, this was when I realized all the things she had been doing wrong; all the things that I was better off without. The ending of our friendship for this period of time allowed me to reach this epiphany that I was my own person able to have my own friends, able to make my own decisions, able to be happy about my accomplishments. This sudden realization lifted the doleful weight from my shoulders, allowing me to become a much happier person with a new outlook on my life. Like I stated before, sometimes it takes us until we reach our lowest point to realize the journey that awaits, to regain the hope and strength that was lost