Many things have happened to me that
have changed my perspective on life, but there was one event in
particular that made me realize that I should always appreciate what
I have, because I could lose everything in the blink of an eye.
When I was a senior in high school, I
Pole Vaulted for my school's track team. During Outdoor Track, which
takes place in the Spring, I was competing in the Maryland State
Champion Outdoor Track and Field Meet. It was my turn to vault, so I
started down the runway, raised my arms with my pole in hand, and
jumped. Instead of successfully making it over the bar and onto the
mat, I veered off to the right, completely missing the mat. Falling
thirteen feet to the ground face first, I stuck my hand out to break
the fall, landed on my wrist, hit my head on the ground, and lost
consciousness. I awoke moments later, to find out that I was mostly
intact, except for a broken wrist. I felt so blessed, because instead
of breaking my neck or even dying, I managed to get up and walk away
from the fall.
That near death experience really
changed my perspective on life. I realized that I could lose so much
in so little time. Since that accident, I have never taken anything
for granted, and I have always been thankful for what I have, no
matter how little, or how big.
I believe that people should be happy
with what they have, and that they should never take anything for
granted, because they could lose it all at any time.
Word Count: 274
In Professor King's American Studies
class, I learned about various ideas and images in the United States
of America. I learned about places, and how a place can matter to
anyone, no matter where/what that place is, whether it be five minutes
from home, or across the country. I learned about culture, and how
people can be influenced by it from living in a transnational world,
as well as branding, which is what people label something, whether it
be 'cool' or 'trending'. Lastly, I learned about generations, and how
each generation has its own ideas, images, and stories that are
passed down to each new generation.
