It was the fall of sixth grade. Now, little 4 ft 5 me was excited but had my middle school reality check the second I walked in. I was like a deer in headlights. I took my seat and we got started. Hmm, Mr. K. Now, from what I knew, he had been teaching for 43 years. Instead of taking attendance, he whipped out a guitar and played a song for us. Yes, and it was then I knew this was not going to be a normal year. In the best way possible. Now fast forward to January 8th, 2018. It was a pretty normal day, I was in the rotation with the other teacher, Mr. Fordney. All was quiet, all was normal, until suddenly, the student-teacher, Mr. B, rushes into the small building that was conveniently located by the zoo. I went to John Ball Zoo School for sixth grade, where the zoology and natural-based learning was unlike any curriculum ever. We took hikes every day in a beautiful forest range. Anyway, he rushes through the doors with no context yelling, "Mr. K had a heart attack!" Everything stopped. Everything was blurry, and no one said a word. I started to have a panic attack, like the rest of my classmates. It was chaos. No one knew what to do, but Mr. Fordney quickly grabbed the phone and called an ambulance. The rest was vague, as I've tried to block that trauma out of my head. All I knew was that Mr. B had given him CPR and saved his life temporarily. It was a melancholy evening. Also, to put this into context, Mr. K was incredible. He believed in personal relationships with students. He would tell us jokes and sing us songs and give us critical feedback. Now, Mr. Fordney did as well, but it was just so touching to see someone of such an old soul, filled to the edge with wisdom. So I went to gymnastics later that Monday, carrying this gut-wrenching feeling about myself. Earlier, the principal had come to the class and told us everything would be fine, but I strongly sensed that everything was not, in fact, going to be fine. My dad was pretty silent on the way home, and I tried to be my chipper self and change the subject. When we got home, everything was normal, until I heard the words I had been dreading to hear all night. My mom called me into the living room. My brother (zoo alumni), my mom, and my dad were all there. "So, um, we just got word from the principal," My mom depressingly said. "And, well, Mr. K died tonight." I couldn't even hold it in at this point. I burst out into an eruption of tears. The pearl orbs were a nonstop river down my cheek. I was horrified. I had unfortunately experienced before, but not with a human. We all just traveled into a region of uncontrollable sobbing. I quietly sulked while we tried to focus on funny memories. I played with my dog to mask the unbearable pain of losing someone. It took months to move on, although no one who went to that school could ever truly move on. I overcame this by accepting my fate, and getting back on track. I was shaped as a person in the sense that I was tough, and I could overcome anything. Meeting Mr. K was my destiny, but his passing was not my fate, because I have come to realize that death is not inevitable- life is. And the more I think, the harder the memories pack on each time, but it is ok. I am ready now.

The moment I had first heard 'Vienna' by Billy Joel, I got goosebumps. The lyrics felt like they were written for me. It reminds me that I need to and enjoy myself. "And you know, that when the truth is told, you can get what you want or you can just get old". That lyric impacted my soul in a way I can't even explain. I feel powerful listening to No Excuses and She loves Control by Megan Trainor and Camila Cabello. Throw in some Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Halsey, and you are good to go.

As someone who is typically quiet and reserved, I don't really open up to new things. But discovering the world of art has made a huge impact on my life. I attempted a sketch, then I couldn't stop. I plan to make more realistic drawings in the future and possibly submit them for an art competition. My brother is the artistic genius of the family, but by being bolder about passion, I've finally unlocked a new hobby of mine.