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Benjamin Mejia

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As humans, we do not realize how valuable life is, it can vanish in an instant, and we must cherish every single moment of the time we have on this earth. Although as a seventeen year old I have only experienced a small fraction of my life, one particular event changed my perspective rather quickly. It enlightened me to realize that I have to follow my dreams and be persevering and dedicated at whatever I strive to achieve while being an overall positive individual. It was May 31st when my family received the phone call, “Benjamin Mejia has had a heart attack and we are sorry to inform you that he has passed away at the military base.” I was dumbfounded, my 25 year old cousin, the bravest person I had ever known had passed away in Iraq, miles …show more content…
He was such an incredible person with an enormous future, and for that to be so blatantly denied to him was one thing I could not shake off of my mind for weeks. In the midst of anxiety and sorrow I did not realize how important this event was in the shaping of my perspective on life. I was able to recognize that instead of drowning in my misery I could take such a tragic event and learn to perceive life in a positive manner. Abraham Lincoln so famously states “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” Instead of focusing on the melancholy aspects of my cousins passing I began to focus on the learning experience I was given. Lincoln’s quote aided my point of view as I understood that I should aim to make the most out of the life given to me, to persevere to be the best I can be, and to ensure myself the goals I dream of accomplishing. I began to complete every task presented to me with the upmost dedication, allowing myself to never be dissatisfied with a project or a dance rehearsal; creating various outlets for myself to portray all the energy coursing through my body. It reminded me that with such a finite life, it is imperative to follow my dreams. Becoming

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