GUEST ESSAY: From tragedy, I learned to never give up

Editor's note: The Star will publish selected Common Application essays from this year's senior class every Thursday. This is the fourth in the series.

Everything changed the night he died. I used to dance instead of fight, laugh rather than cry, and sing rather than scream. As an ordinary child, I would play with My Little Pony and Littlest Pet Shop, I’d paint my stuffed animal’s nails, and I wanted to be popular. My father's job and military obligations required us to move frequently across the United States. When we arrived in Louisiana, I was immediately an outcast as the new girl in 4th grade. I was bullied and had no friends until I met Maddie. She introduced me to her friends, and I found comfort with them.

On the night of my brother’s 14th birthday, Maddie’s mom asked me to come with her and the other kids for an ATV ride. I happily sat in the back, and we went on our way. Maddie’s little brother Kohen wanted to go. He was six years old, but he never made it to seven. He would never graduate high school, have his first kiss, or go to college.

The last thing I remember is my vision tilted, and everything was gone. I awoke to screams and police lights. That night I watched his head slam against concrete, blood pouring from his wound, and the light leaving his eyes. I was only ten, yet I seemed to gain hundreds of years in those short seconds. At that moment, I didn’t understand how impactful this singular moment would be on my life. I isolated myself and fell into a dark depression for years. I lost my friends, my passion, and myself. I tried to die; I wanted to die.

I don’t know what sparked my passion, but I decided I would not let myself die with him. I would not waste my life because he could not live his.

I began to focus in class and found a love for reading, science, and mathematics. I talked with my mom about how I felt and showed her my mental and physical scars. She put me into therapy and paid for all my medications and treatments, regardless of our financial struggles. She was by my side, elating me as my “biggest cheerleader,” she would say.

By the time I graduated eighth grade, I was at the top of my class, yet I hungered for more. With my newfound energy and ambition, I tried out for a prestigious school in Birmingham, Alabama. I was accepted and pushed myself through all the hard times, the deaths, the memories, and the calculus tests. I made it! Looking back, I am proud of my younger self for not giving up.

This is the lesson that Kohen has taught me: never give up.

Sarah Buchanan is a senior in the Math/Science department.