a scholarship essay i wrote about aubrae...
the topic was: please explain in 1000 words or less how one person in particular has influenced your life in a positive way. hope you like.
Throughout the course of my life, I have come in contact with countless people who have made an impression on me for the better. Some have influenced me with their words, others with their actions, and still more with the great love they have shown me. One person has made more of an impact on my life than she will perhaps ever know. In fact, I have never even met her, and not until I pass on from this world and go to Heaven will I ever get to speak with her. Her name is Aubrae Gunderson, and she has changed my life in more ways than can even begin to be described.
In September of 2005, a tragic accident occurred at Heritage High School in Conyers, Georgia. While I live in Fayetteville, Georgia and do not go to Heritage, I go to church in Conyers with many people who attend Heritage, as well. While at a meeting at church that Monday night, my youth council group (of which I am a member) became concerned with what might be going on outside the doors of our church. For about ten minutes, we heard nothing but the sound of sirens rushing by and obvious urgency. Only about an hour later did we receive the news of what was really going on, and how our lives would be changed forever.
Aubrae Gunderson, a star athlete and amazing friend at Heritage, had been struck by a car while running with the Heritage Cross Country team along the side of busy Georgia Highway 138. She made it to the hospital that evening, but never walked back out of those doors. Her extensive internal injuries from the impact of the vehicle were too much for her body to handle. Many of my friends lost a special person in their life that evening, and while I felt I had suffered a loss, as well, I think that I gained the graciousness of one of the greatest angels ever created.
You see, Aubrae taught me about all that I had been missing out on in my life. Too many times had I heard stories of life being taken away, and yet I was too stubborn to think that it could happen to me, as well. While Aubrae’s loss was one of the greatest tragedies ever to happen, I have now learned how to truly be grateful for just waking up each morning.
Aubrae had a list of rules of which to live by that she placed on her mirror and saw every morning as she was getting ready for school or the day ahead. These standards were formed from an acronym of her name, and never in my life have I read such inspiring and meaningful words.
A void negative sources, people, places, things, and habits
U nderstand yourself in order to better understand others
B elieve in yourself
R ead, study, and learn about everything important in your life
A void negative sources, people, places, things, and habits
E njoy life today; yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come
I keep these words in my wallet so that I may always remember Aubrae and what an amazing life she lived. Although her time on earth was far too short, she exemplified what it means to be a truly and genuinely breathtaking individual, both inside and out.
I learned from Aubrae that on those days when it seems like there is not a smile anywhere for miles around that can be put on your face, there is always someone who will be willing to find it for you, no matter what it may take. I learned from her that to live your greatest life means to not only believe in yourself, but to believe in a greater hope for the world. She taught me what it means to love, even when you feel unloved; to care, even when you feel unnoticed; to make a difference, even when you feel that the world is against you; and most importantly, to feel alive, even when all the world seems dead.
Looking back on this life of this sweet, sweet girl, I wish I could say that I was close friends with her. The truth of the matter is, though, that never once in my life did I meet her. I’ve come to find out, though, that those who make the greatest impact on your life aren’t necessarily those who are closest to you. Such is the case with Aubrae; as much as it upsets me to know that she has lost her life, I thank God every day for bringing her to me so that, in a way, I might have life. I have found new life in learning to be grateful for everything that I have, and to not want those things which I cannot have. The greatest gift of all has been given to me: life, no matter how stressful or frustrating it may be at times.
I thank Aubrae for teaching me so much and for making such a positive influence on my life. Though I am not able to speak to her face to face, I know she can hear me, somewhere far away. What is great to know, though, is that I’m not the only one who has been touched and changed by the life of this special girl. People in this state, across the country, and probably even across the globe have learned something from her, and it’s so easy to see that she was such an amazing gift to this world and to the people in it. In days like these when there is so much evil and darkness in the world, I know the light of Aubrae Gunderson will always shine on and serve to bring a little relief and God-given grace to those of us still living. I know she is a blessing to me, and because of her I have learned to “enjoy life today, for yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.”
Throughout the course of my life, I have come in contact with countless people who have made an impression on me for the better. Some have influenced me with their words, others with their actions, and still more with the great love they have shown me. One person has made more of an impact on my life than she will perhaps ever know. In fact, I have never even met her, and not until I pass on from this world and go to Heaven will I ever get to speak with her. Her name is Aubrae Gunderson, and she has changed my life in more ways than can even begin to be described.
In September of 2005, a tragic accident occurred at Heritage High School in Conyers, Georgia. While I live in Fayetteville, Georgia and do not go to Heritage, I go to church in Conyers with many people who attend Heritage, as well. While at a meeting at church that Monday night, my youth council group (of which I am a member) became concerned with what might be going on outside the doors of our church. For about ten minutes, we heard nothing but the sound of sirens rushing by and obvious urgency. Only about an hour later did we receive the news of what was really going on, and how our lives would be changed forever.
Aubrae Gunderson, a star athlete and amazing friend at Heritage, had been struck by a car while running with the Heritage Cross Country team along the side of busy Georgia Highway 138. She made it to the hospital that evening, but never walked back out of those doors. Her extensive internal injuries from the impact of the vehicle were too much for her body to handle. Many of my friends lost a special person in their life that evening, and while I felt I had suffered a loss, as well, I think that I gained the graciousness of one of the greatest angels ever created.
You see, Aubrae taught me about all that I had been missing out on in my life. Too many times had I heard stories of life being taken away, and yet I was too stubborn to think that it could happen to me, as well. While Aubrae’s loss was one of the greatest tragedies ever to happen, I have now learned how to truly be grateful for just waking up each morning.
Aubrae had a list of rules of which to live by that she placed on her mirror and saw every morning as she was getting ready for school or the day ahead. These standards were formed from an acronym of her name, and never in my life have I read such inspiring and meaningful words.
A void negative sources, people, places, things, and habits
U nderstand yourself in order to better understand others
B elieve in yourself
R ead, study, and learn about everything important in your life
A void negative sources, people, places, things, and habits
E njoy life today; yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come
I keep these words in my wallet so that I may always remember Aubrae and what an amazing life she lived. Although her time on earth was far too short, she exemplified what it means to be a truly and genuinely breathtaking individual, both inside and out.
I learned from Aubrae that on those days when it seems like there is not a smile anywhere for miles around that can be put on your face, there is always someone who will be willing to find it for you, no matter what it may take. I learned from her that to live your greatest life means to not only believe in yourself, but to believe in a greater hope for the world. She taught me what it means to love, even when you feel unloved; to care, even when you feel unnoticed; to make a difference, even when you feel that the world is against you; and most importantly, to feel alive, even when all the world seems dead.
Looking back on this life of this sweet, sweet girl, I wish I could say that I was close friends with her. The truth of the matter is, though, that never once in my life did I meet her. I’ve come to find out, though, that those who make the greatest impact on your life aren’t necessarily those who are closest to you. Such is the case with Aubrae; as much as it upsets me to know that she has lost her life, I thank God every day for bringing her to me so that, in a way, I might have life. I have found new life in learning to be grateful for everything that I have, and to not want those things which I cannot have. The greatest gift of all has been given to me: life, no matter how stressful or frustrating it may be at times.
I thank Aubrae for teaching me so much and for making such a positive influence on my life. Though I am not able to speak to her face to face, I know she can hear me, somewhere far away. What is great to know, though, is that I’m not the only one who has been touched and changed by the life of this special girl. People in this state, across the country, and probably even across the globe have learned something from her, and it’s so easy to see that she was such an amazing gift to this world and to the people in it. In days like these when there is so much evil and darkness in the world, I know the light of Aubrae Gunderson will always shine on and serve to bring a little relief and God-given grace to those of us still living. I know she is a blessing to me, and because of her I have learned to “enjoy life today, for yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.”