April 13th, 2022- An experience

(April 13th, 2022) I went to school, just a normal everyday- day. I went through my 7 classes (chorus, digital media, algebra 2, AP human geography, biology, english, and art). The day went by quite fast because of the fact that exams were so close. In a little more than a month, our first year of high school will be over. I couldn’t stop thinking about it all. I was a little stressed about everything going on. I made it through the school day. After the final bell, I went to the library to see if they had the book I had on hold yet. They didn’t and I was on my way out to the school parking lot to find my brother. At the time, my brother didn’t get a parking spot in the senior section, so we had to wait in the long line of parents and high schoolers attempting to get out of school.

Just like any other day getting out of school, I was reading as we waited. Eventually we got out and were on the actual road. We were pursuing our usual route- and then, it happened so suddenly. At one point I was just reading and the next I’m being thrown to the side of my seat. I hear some type of screeching noise and what sounds like something blowing up and the next thing I know everything is black.

When I finally open my eyes, the first thing I notice is smoke. I can taste it, and it’s in my eyes and nose. It’s suffocating, just being in a car with smoke everywhere. I notice some white form in front of me. It takes me a moment to realize that it is an airbag. Then it hits me, a ringing. I was so scared. I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t hear. It was frightening, I felt sick at the thought that I couldn’t hear any voice, all I could hear was a ringing. I attempted to call out my brother’s name when I realized he was calling out to me. He opened my car door and helped me out. Then I went back into the car to grab my backpack and my books (yes, my first reaction was to get the books and my notes for school). My brother called my dad and I called my mom. I was shaking. People came by to make sure we were okay. The ambulance came to make sure everyone was okay and clear out the debris, and then they were gone. I couldn’t believe what had just happened.

We had to wait a total of around 7 hours for the police to arrive. I was doing homework on the sidewalk in the heat. I finished my algebra homework and started working on my art assignment. I started growing tired and hungry, eventually falling asleep on the sidewalk with my backpack acting as a pillow. My thoughts at the time consisted of how I survived and what would have happened if I didn’t. I was so scared and couldn’t wrap my head around it all.

To think about it, if the crash had been ever more severe, I may not have made it though her first year of high school. If the crash was worse, I may not even be alive right now at this very moment. But gladly, whether that be an act of faith or luck, I am alive. This experience helped me understand that I should take calculated risks. I understand that I can’t wait around for opportunities to come to me, I have to make those opportunities myself. There’s so many things that can happen at the drop of a hat. In just a few seconds, something could happen. I’ve come to terms with the fact that life means a lot and I need to make the most of it.

On top of that, I understand the importance of safe driving. This experience was in my freshman year of high school, and I finally got my license at the very beginning of my junior year of high school. This one experience shaped my whole life to come. Now, I’m extremely alert when I drive, making sure to always drive the speed limit, use my turn signals, and look out for other cars that are acting as a hazard on the road. Every driver should know the rules of the road, from not texting and driving, not driving intoxicated, using turn signals, driving the speed limit, and overall just being alert. Otherwise, it could cost the life of someone’s child.