It is difficult for me to imagine that a year ago, I was a senior in high school and had to worry about the basketball game coming up, scholarships, and getting accepted into college. 2009 was filled with many ups and downs as all years are. 2009 was different than any other year for me because so much happened that will affected the rest of my life.
In the beginning of the year, I helped the girls basketball program in jr. high and on the high school levels by receiving the honor to help coach. I owe the head coach my deepest gratitude. I graduated high school with all 64 of my classmates, and looked forward to a summer filled with fun and excitement. The summer was great as I earned lots of money from working at a local dinner where I met tons of friends that helped shape me into the person I am now and hung out with my friends.
September hit and I was thrown into the real world away from my safety net that was my friends and family. But, I wasn’t scared. I was right where I wanted to be. I arrived on the college campus of Augustana, not sure of what to expect, but knew I was going to have fun no matter what. I met tons of new friends and forged new bonds with the people closest to me. All of whom have forever left their mark on my very soul. I am a better person because of them, and I thank them for everything from the bottom of heart.
The end of 2009 was when all the crap that is my life hit. First, my dad was diagnosed with cancer: Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and has been fighting now for four cycles. Watching him go through this whole ordeal has been one of the toughest challenges of my life. We will find out in a few weeks how well he is doing. Fingers crossed.
Another calamity that has plagued my family is my grandmother’s heart attack. I can be thankful that she survived and is doing well with therapy every week. She has had heart problems all her life, but she is a fighter.
Anthony and my mom both had surgeries, which weren’t anything major, but nonetheless cost us a lot of hassle with the insurance, which we have been fighting for quite some time now. Thankfully, they are covering my dad and all his prescriptions.
The hardest part, for me, through all of this is the fact that I am no longer home to help out. I can’t be there for them through our darkest times, which makes it harder for me to concentrate on my schoolwork. But I muddle through.
I was always taught that no matter how bleak anything is, there is always a silver lining to any situation. Even if the situation seems to dark to possibly have any light, I learned that there will always be some streak of light somewhere, it just takes a little patience and a little heart to find it. It is there.
Lately, I have found this to be true in everything. I am a firm believe that everything happens for a reason. With all the bad things that have cursed my family, I have found that the ordeals have brought my whole family closer together. We seem to appreciate each other, and I no longer take each day for granted because I see that God has a plan for us, and he controls what happens. At any moment, he can snatch our souls and bring us up to him. We aren’t safe anywhere. When God wants us, he will take us. But, we have to fight; we have to stay positive.
I guess 2009 taught me a tough lessen. Each day needs to be lived as though it was the last day of the world. No one knows when you will go; there is no guarantee one will live through today. So, if anyone can go away after reading this, I hope you remember that even in the darkest hour, there is a crack of light to show you the way.