The Constant Pursuit of a Utopia

Death is something that is present in every aspect of life, as life goes hand-in-hand with death. Something cannot live without having to die eventually. However, death is not fair. It takes people early, and although this cannot be stopped, it can be prevented to the best of our ability. In the case of deaths as a result of driving, these deaths are especially devastating. Those who survive the victim are often left wondering: why? The victim’s full story becomes lost forever, with their life, thoughts, and personality rendered undiscoverable in an instant. The victims themselves are off to wherever the afterlife, if there is one, is, and they are taken from us too early. To combat these deaths, we must educate the next generation of drivers to drive responsibly and drive safety, because driver education doesn’t only protect the driver receiving education, but also everyone else on the road. But driver education doesn’t solve the problem.

In order to further reduce deaths due to driving, substance abuse must end. People must be educated on the danger of substances, as well as be given clear paths to solutions for their problems, such as mental health counseling, literature in the form of public libraries, and access to necessities for living. Almost everyone is struggling in some aspect of their life, and people should be supported through this process of struggle instead of forced to walk forever alone in a labyrinth of suffering. We must make sure that nobody ever thinks that “straight and fast,” to quote Alaska from John Green’s novel Looking for Alaska, is the only solution to end suffering. That way, people can remind in the right mindset and mentality when driving. At the root of the problem though, lies education and equal opportunity. So many people are unfairly turned away from future prospects such as jobs and internship opportunities, and this creates a situation where those who face poverty cannot escape poverty themselves and creates a cycle of destruction that discriminates. This results in more substance abuse, mental illness, and upset mental states, making the road more dangerous for everyone. These problems only make worse the prospect of constantly being a few seconds away from death on the road.

I still remember being in a car accident when I was only seven years old, and I was sitting in the backseat, in the middle. A huge truck slammed into the side of my car because the driver didn’t see that it was a red light. I was too young then to realize that if I had not sat in the middle seat, my life would have ended. Sometimes that thought still keeps me up at night, and really reinforces the idea that driving is a dangerous thing, as you never know when your life is an instant away from ending.

Being in this accident also motivated me to never put others in the situation I was put in – where my life was inches away from being taken. I always drive with too hands on the wheel, and I make sure that, mentally, I am safe to drive, by never driving when I’m upset or emotional. Also, when I’m driving, I give my full attention to the road, always watching for possible dangers and ways that I can improve putting myself and others in a dangerous situation. But also, my precautions extend beyond simply being safe on the road. I understand that to truly protect myself and other drivers and passengers best, I myself must not engage in substance abuse or live with a lack of purpose in life. To ensure my continued mental well-being, I pursue answers to my essential questions about life and purpose through reading, writing, and creating. For example, I write poetry that expresses my thoughts and beliefs about themes present in humanity, such as love, grief, regret, and joy. I also write novels that examine people and how what makes them incredible, and how a seemingly insignificant few people in a seemingly insignificant place are actually important and amazing. My constant drive to achieve my goals and my desire to love my loved ones fiercely is what keeps me going, and I make sure to never lose sight of these drives. These drives are with me every second of my life, making sure that I don’t make irresponsible decisions, and learn from my own and others’ mistakes. Everyone has their own way to ensure their safety on the road, and I believe that everyone should be encouraged to find and practice this way, in addition to receiving necessary driving education and safety education.