Undergraduate /
"my experiences with Kelsey" - Villanova- Lesson I've Learned [6]
Last day help help!!
Asking for help on the last day again, ugh need to stop doing this! please help me out, I'm pretty satisfied with most of the paper, but need help on grammatical errors and the conclusion! It feels a bit weak and I don't want to sound cliche. Advice on how to make the ending stronger will be amazing. Thanks so much!
As you imagine yourself as a member of the Villanova community, what is one lesson that you have learned in your life that you will want to share with others?"It's all your fault! You did this to me!" My best friend, Kelsey, stood before me with tears of suffering gushing down her face. Stained makeup, loathing eyes, menacing position; everything was warped into high definition. The room was dimly lit, the tension unbearable. We were only standing feet away from each other but it it felt like miles. The words dropped like an atom bomb; deadly and without warning. Silence suffocated my body and I struggled for the right words to respond. How do I reach out to her? What can I do to make things better? Could I handle this alone?
Kelsey and I had been best friends since middle school. We were inseparable, spending every waking moment with each other. My circle of friends consisted of several people, but Kelsey and I shared a bond we couldn't explain to others. We knew each other inside and out. Then out of nowhere, everything changed. Her signs of depression were unmistakable: irritability, loss of interest in everything, weight gain, and recurring feelings of hopelessness. I never expected anything like this to ever happen. In one fell swoop, my friendship shattered before my eyes.
As the signs began to manifest, Kelsey's so-called friends began distancing themselves. Maybe they didn't understand the depth of the situation, but it was evident they didn't want to deal with her. Kelsey wouldn't acknowledge she had a problem, so talking to her parents was out of the question. I was clearly in this by myself. To make matters worse, she was pushing me away as well.
Back in my room, questions, doubt, and even guilt swarmed through my mind, rendering me incapable of action. Overwhelmed by her hateful words, I grasped to assess the situation. My best friend blamed me for her depression and broke down my wall of fortitude; all that was left were the remains, making me feel powerless and vulnerable. As a sophomore in high school, I wasn't ready for such a huge responsibility. But at some point in those agonizing minutes of silence, I reached a verdict. "Kelsey, I'm going to be here for you whether you like it or not!" I was no longer afraid to act. She was my best friend, and I would remain by her side.
The next few months were dreadful. Trifling matters would set her off, escalating small arguments into massive fights. But I stuck with her, and endured everything she threw at me, figuratively and literally. I researched online, encouraged her to call hotlines, and talked to my guidance counselor for further steps I should take. I was determined to help, even if my persistence only made the smallest of differences. Eventually with love and support, I broke through to her: she needed help. She talked to her parents and agreed to go to counseling.
I learned many things from my experiences with Kelsey. For the first time, I faced an important decision on my own. I'm proud that I stood by her and am grateful that she wasn't permanently affected and she took positive steps toward recovery. In a recent conversation with Kelsey, she reflected, "At the time, all your nagging made me want to punch you. But looking back, I realized you were the only one who stuck me with me during all the bad times. It meant a lot that you cared so much about me." What I would like to share with the members of Villanova community is that if you want to bring about change, you must take action. A passive attitude doesn't cut it; change requires hard work, patience, and compassion.
