Putnam Final

Life’s Challenges

The greatest challenge I’ve dealt with in my life so far was recently coping with the death of my beloved grandfather He died early this year and it was the first time in my life that I’ve had to deal with the passing away of a loved one, as someone who can now fully grasp what it means to not see or speak to this person you got so used to.

When I was younger and people close to me passed away, with the comprehension of a younger child I easily managed the transition. As many would say, I was too young to remember. However when my grandfather died this year, I saw death through a new view. My confidence in myself and my capabilities left me bereft when it came to dealing with emotional loss. You don’t really get to take a class or extra credits to go through experiencing loss of someone you love. You can only watch other people go through it, and sympathize, until it actually happens to you.

Although I have experienced many challenges in my life (academic and personal), this would be the most difficult I’ve had to deal with so far. There really is no book, no counselor or friend who can help you cope with experiencing another’s death. In this, you are truly alone as you face your conversations with someone who can no longer respond to your input.

I’ve read that death makes us value life all the more—to take it as a precious gift that we all have. I believe in that piece of wisdom, after what happened this year. I’ve found myself being more tolerant to others and best of all; I’ve been more kind to myself. I think that we are our own harshest critics, and yet we find fault in ourselves for things we can actually let go of. I severely miss my grandfather still, yet I am thankful to his passing away to reacquaint me with what really matters in life; the ordinary moments we spend with people we care about, and that is often lost in the shuffle of living.