Charlotte by Antoinette

Charlotte by Antoinette - October 2013 Scholarship Essay

My most valuable life lesson wasn't learned from a person; it was taught to me by my horse, Charlotte. Charlotte came in to my life just over three years ago and she has taught me more in those three years than most humans have taught me in seventeen. Charlotte has taught me what it means to be loved unconditionally and to trust another being with your safety and your heart.
My heart has been shattered several times in my short life, but Charlotte constantly reminds me that it is important to put your heart back out there, because if you don't you will be missing out on something amazing because you are scared. So I guess you could say that's the greatest lesson I have learned from Charlotte; not to be afraid. There will always be things in life that test you and that you don't want to face, but you can't let them control your life, you can't let them win. You have to take charge and show them who's the boss. If you just sit by and let life pass you by, you might as well not have lived at all. I'm not saying you should run right into a gun fight, but you shouldn't let the fear of violence keep you cloistered in your home.
Charlotte has also taught me what it means to have a friend that you can always count on. She is always there for me, when I need a hug or someone to talk to. But she doesn't give advice, nor does she analyze my mistakes. She lets me live my life how I want, never judging but always watching, always caring. Charlotte may not speak English, but we communicate in a way that doesn't require words. When I'm with Charlotte I know what it means to be safe and loved and cared for. There is no other creature that can teach this lesson so wholly and completely as a horse.
People call me crazy for loving my horse this much, and often chastise me for acting as though she is a person, but no one has the right to say things like that if they have never tried to experience what they are talking about. That’s the most important thing Charlotte has taught me; to have pride in myself. She has shown me that it’s ok to make mistakes and be proud of coming second. There are more important things in life than winning, and that is a lesson that everyone needs to learn. Winning doesn’t last forever, your name will be forgotten or replaced with another’s, but a love like mine and Charlotte’s endures forever, and that is something no one can ever take away from us.