Second Chance by Julia

Second Chance by Julia - November 2018 Scholarship Essay

In a second, I created a catastrophe. Jostled in my seat, as my car skidded to a stop, in an awkward position on the side of the road. “Oh my God, Oh my God . . .!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. I rushed for the handle of the car door and swung it open with all my strength. I stepped out, and there it was. The upside down Jeep, that I had hit, down the road. I dropped to my knees shaking. What have I done?

Before the car accident, I had a grave, overwhelming, feeling. A constant feeling that life was pressing down on me, every worry bombarded my head. I couldn’t trust my own thoughts. This drive I intended to clear my head. To forget about the thoughts. All I wanted, was to escape. My escape plan vanished, upon the impact. It flew from my hands, and out of my control.
In that moment, I was on my knees in anguish. Only thinking the worst. Are they dead? How could I live with myself if they are?
Bystanders rushed to my side calming me down. They became my heroes, as they told me the other person was okay. They told me not to worry, and to control my breathing.

It is a miracle that I am here today and that the other person is alive. The car crash didn’t take my life. It reshaped it.
This near death experience gave me a first-hand lesson of how fast life can be taken from you, seconds. Following the accident, I’ve appreciated my life to a whole new level.

It was never my choice to not see the other car coming down the road. Never my choice to press down on the accelerator at the wrong time. Yet, it didn’t matter because it happened. I now have the choice in how I live my life, after being granted another chance. A choice to control my outlook, my thoughts, and my priorities.

Overwhelming thoughts still come, creating anxiety, but I’m learning these thoughts are not impossible to overcome. That split second which saved my life, gave me a second chance. No longer do I pity myself constantly. Instead, I strive to embrace my second chance, and embrace a life, with no regrets. Quitting social media, letting go of damaging relationships, and letting people know how much I care about them are just a few ways I’ve rebuilt my character.  

I often think about the experiences that came after the car crash. What this second chance has granted me: Spending a summer in Connecticut, being a counselor and building relationships with people who have developmental disabilities; becoming a senior mentor to an all-freshman homeroom, getting to hear about their days at the lockers; being with my dog during his last minutes; running with all my heart at Cross Country races; hugging a friend after a bad day.

Life is more precious to me now, more than ever. I don’t ever want a day to go by without smiling and appreciating all it has to offer. I’ve learned to let go what is holding me from freedom. Life is full of choices. It is my choice to live. It is everyone's choice to live. My senior quote would be: "Don't let anything hold you back from living with freedom". It is my desire for people to know that every day is what you make it; live it to the fullest.