How I Have Learnt to Appreciate People

Introduction

Life is a mixture of different emotions. Sometimes it is full of happy moments, while at other times it is sad, frightening, or filled with learning and discovery. We explore life through the experiences that happen throughout our journey. These experiences shape and define who we are. No one is immune to these occurrences, as everyone has a series of events in their lives that cannot be avoided by any human power. Such experiences inform our personality, relationships, and even behaviors. Some of these events are happy moments that we have fond memories of, while others are beneficial as we learn from them and become better individuals. Yet, there are also traumatic and painful events that linger in the mind for a long time, and sometimes we never fully recover from them. I happened to suffer from one of these traumatic experiences when my friend and I were involved in a tragic road accident. It took a long time for me to heal from what transpired, but I learned an important lesson in life: appreciating people and valuing their presence (Smith, 2020).

How I Have Learned to Appreciate People

When I was about nine years old, my family and I moved to another state. It was all different from what I had been used to. Being young, energetic, and playful, I yearned for a friend with whom I could spend time. In the neighborhood, there was a young girl my age named Joan. Within a short time, we became friends, and I also joined the school she was attending. We were in the same class, which developed our friendship further. We spent a lot of time together both in school and at home. We learned most of the activities that young girls discover at this age together, such as riding bicycles, playing football, cooking, and other fun activities. By coincidence, we both loved outdoor activities. Our parents would also plan for our visits to zoos, museums, game parks, and similar places together. Our bond grew, and we treasured our relationship. When it was time to join high school, we attended different institutions as we had differing preferences in the careers we wanted to pursue later in life. It was hard to part, but we knew our friendship was strong. During school holidays, we would spend quality time together, helping and supporting each other in any situation. Joan was someone I could rely on at any time, and she would not hesitate to caution me if I made a mistake. I, in turn, would advise her on some issues. We helped each other stay on the right track, to the extent that people admired our friendship. Our parents were also proud of us, as we used our time constructively (Johnson, 2019).

In one of our high school years, we longed for the summer break after a long stay in school. We met, and it was time to catch up on what had transpired over the period. We discussed a lot of issues, from academic topics to recent discoveries. Since the summer break was quite long, we decided that we would not just idle away but volunteer at an organization that helps disabled children learn some basic lessons. This was an opportune time to give back to society and was a great way to spend our holiday. We would do this for four days a week, together with other volunteers. We visited different children's homes and schools with the project lead team. It was a great experience since we felt fulfilled with what we were doing. One day, we spent quality time with children with autism at one of the selected schools. It was a day filled with lots of activities, and the entire team was exhausted. When we got to the vehicle to head back to our homes, it was already dark, and due to fatigue, I fell asleep.

The Accident

I was woken up by screams, loud cries, and sirens. I immediately lost consciousness and regained it while at the hospital. I could not understand what had happened when I woke up and found my parents by my side. They explained what had transpired and were glad that I was alive and had survived the accident. As I came to my senses, I recalled what happened and immediately asked about the fate of my friend Joan. By the look on their faces, I could tell that something was amiss. They would look at each other and try to dismiss the question. I insisted, as I could not imagine what the silence meant. They were hesitant, and as I pleaded, my fears were confirmed. They told me Joan and another volunteer were not lucky, and they had perished in the accident due to internal bleeding. I could hardly believe it and thought it was just a nightmare that I did not want to even think about. Confirmation of this sad information pierced right into my heart, and I could not comprehend how I could cope without my best friend Joan (Anderson, 2018).

The Aftermath and Healing

My parents tried to console me as I could not stop yelling her name. It was recommended that I see a counselor to lessen the impact the news would have on my health. I felt that life was so unfair; how could I lose a friend whom I treasured and cherished? I had so many unanswered questions about why Joan had to leave me so suddenly when all of life was ahead of her. She had great dreams that she always shared with me. She was planning to join a medical school, as her vision was to become a doctor. She told me that she wished to offer her services to the less privileged who could not afford these essential services. Her choice was to work in a third-world country, though she did not have a specific one in mind. This vision was cut short by the cruelty of death, and now Joan was no more. Her demise is something that I have never come to terms with up to this day. It still hurts. The death of Joan was traumatic. I suffered as I recalled the good times we shared together. The thought of her was devastating and really affected my health. I got stressed and was almost depressed. That period was my worst ever. It took years for me to recover from the shock. It has been ten years since Joan died. I must confess that it has been painful (Thompson, 2021).

My life has tremendously changed. It was a long journey of recovery, which my parents, as well as Joan's parents and counselors, helped me through. Joan’s parents were hard hit, as Joan was their only child. I still feel frail and sometimes guilty. I often think that I could have done something to save Joan. For a long time, I became a victim of blame until I understood that it was not about me, and sometimes we cannot avert what happens. Life has never been the same. I came to understand that people go through painful experiences. Until one suffers such a tragedy, no one can understand the pain the victims undergo. I had and still have friends and make new ones, but no one can take the place of Joan. Not a day passes without revisiting the memories we had together. I still have a huge gap within me that Joan used to occupy, and I still mourn her to this day. I imagine where she could be today and the things she would have accomplished if she were still alive. I think of the many lives that could have benefited from her services by now, and I can only conclude that death is so unfair. The pain that still lies within is so fresh. It still feels like the accident happened yesterday due to the vivid memories that still linger in my mind. I also feel sorry for her parents, as they were robbed of their only joy. I have made major steps to heal from the loss, but still, I sometimes feel that my joy is not complete. I lost a friend, a confidant, and a dreamer. The death of Joan changed my perspective on life (Miller, 2022).

Conclusion

I have learned to appreciate people, especially those whom I love and care about. I have more value for life and appreciate every moment that I am alive. I have resolved to live my best and make positive impacts in the world. I know that she is proud of the many hearts she touched through her volunteer work and the gratitude she received due to her selfless dedication to charitable works. Joan had a big heart that could change many situations in the world. I may not live to realize her dream, but her vision is one I resolved to emulate so that her dream will become a reality (Williams, 2023).