"...I won't deny that I'm inclined to isolate..."
Mitchell Cody Campbell was born in Albuquerque on September 23, 1988. I met him in elementary school, in second grade. I don’t exactly remember the moment we met, but we quickly became friends. We shared many interests, and could always play together. We’d go over to each other’s houses all the time. I lost contact with him when I transferred schools, but then met him again in middle school. We became friends again. But really, everyone was friends with Mitchell. He was one of the most accessible people anyone knew. Everyone would go to him with their problems, and he would help anyone out. Punk came along. Many of us became punk, although I’d like to think none more so than Mitchell. Mitchell embodied the punk ideal. He stood up for equality and justice, and never gave up on what he believed in, no matter what.
In high school, Mitchell made an impression on nearly everyone who didn’t know him. He was very charismatic, and even more people were drawn to his attitude. Mitchell was exactly who he wanted to be. He would never change himself or his beliefs for anything, and he stood up for them until the very end. He walked out of school or class numerous times because of disagreement with administrators, but they all continued to respect him. He was one of the smartest students they’d ever met. In fact, we all continued to respect him. Everyone knew he was involved with drug use, but most of us were fine with it. Many of us did it with him.
Music inspired him. He and a few of his friends had a band, and they played a show with my band near the end of our freshman year. His band, Last in Office, had a falling out shortly thereafter. He was heartbroken, but he continued playing music anyway. “Music will always be in my heart and soul, and nothing will ever get in its way”, he once said. But as far as everyone could tell, things were still okay for Mitchell. He still stood up for his beliefs. He was still a great person to be around, and a great friend to everyone. Nearly everyone who knew him adored and respected him.
Then he died. He was found dead, in his room, on May 23, 2004. His parents claimed it was an accident. But his friends, especially his close ones, seemed to think otherwise. The autopsy indicated a large overdose of Oxycotin. “Mitchell knew drugs” one of his friends once explained to me. “He’d done Oxy plenty of times before. He knew exactly how much was too much, and he died from taking way, way too much. He knew exactly what he was doing”.
His funeral was held in the high school theater. Nearly everyone who’d known him showed up. His family spoke about his life, and read his writing. It came time for his friends to go up and say their final words about Mitchell. Nearly 15 of his friends stood up and spoke. They spoke about what a great friend Mitchell was. They spoke about how kind he was, about how he cared for everyone around him, about how he’d always help out and come through for his friends when it mattered. About how it was a privilege to know him, one of the greatest people any of us had ever known. I was last. When I got up, I explained how ever since second grade, Mitchell had looked out for me when I needed it. Then I spoke about his beliefs.
“Mitchell was a great friend”, I said. “But Mitchell was also a great person. He was someone who held to his beliefs no matter what. In life, he always stood up for what he believed in. In death, I hope we can remember that. Every day, we need to remember Mitchell and stand up for our beliefs. Because he can’t do it anymore.”
Last in Office played a song written for him. We all clapped and cheered, but it was bittersweet. Right then, we all missed him more than anything. I still miss him. And I still remember him. I remember him all the time, and I know what I have to do. I have to stand up for what I believe in every single day. I have to never give up pursuing the things I believe in and care about. Because some of us can’t anymore.
In high school, Mitchell made an impression on nearly everyone who didn’t know him. He was very charismatic, and even more people were drawn to his attitude. Mitchell was exactly who he wanted to be. He would never change himself or his beliefs for anything, and he stood up for them until the very end. He walked out of school or class numerous times because of disagreement with administrators, but they all continued to respect him. He was one of the smartest students they’d ever met. In fact, we all continued to respect him. Everyone knew he was involved with drug use, but most of us were fine with it. Many of us did it with him.
Music inspired him. He and a few of his friends had a band, and they played a show with my band near the end of our freshman year. His band, Last in Office, had a falling out shortly thereafter. He was heartbroken, but he continued playing music anyway. “Music will always be in my heart and soul, and nothing will ever get in its way”, he once said. But as far as everyone could tell, things were still okay for Mitchell. He still stood up for his beliefs. He was still a great person to be around, and a great friend to everyone. Nearly everyone who knew him adored and respected him.
Then he died. He was found dead, in his room, on May 23, 2004. His parents claimed it was an accident. But his friends, especially his close ones, seemed to think otherwise. The autopsy indicated a large overdose of Oxycotin. “Mitchell knew drugs” one of his friends once explained to me. “He’d done Oxy plenty of times before. He knew exactly how much was too much, and he died from taking way, way too much. He knew exactly what he was doing”.
His funeral was held in the high school theater. Nearly everyone who’d known him showed up. His family spoke about his life, and read his writing. It came time for his friends to go up and say their final words about Mitchell. Nearly 15 of his friends stood up and spoke. They spoke about what a great friend Mitchell was. They spoke about how kind he was, about how he cared for everyone around him, about how he’d always help out and come through for his friends when it mattered. About how it was a privilege to know him, one of the greatest people any of us had ever known. I was last. When I got up, I explained how ever since second grade, Mitchell had looked out for me when I needed it. Then I spoke about his beliefs.
“Mitchell was a great friend”, I said. “But Mitchell was also a great person. He was someone who held to his beliefs no matter what. In life, he always stood up for what he believed in. In death, I hope we can remember that. Every day, we need to remember Mitchell and stand up for our beliefs. Because he can’t do it anymore.”
Last in Office played a song written for him. We all clapped and cheered, but it was bittersweet. Right then, we all missed him more than anything. I still miss him. And I still remember him. I remember him all the time, and I know what I have to do. I have to stand up for what I believe in every single day. I have to never give up pursuing the things I believe in and care about. Because some of us can’t anymore.