There are few times in a person’s life when certain events or a string of events come together in an odd or precarious way and which cause that person to re-evaluate their life and the makings of it. This is one of those times.
Last week, a Saint Louis University student, Amy King, who was studying in Madrid in SLU’s study-abroad program, passed away. Her death was sudden, and it sent shockwaves through the entire SLU community, especially the students who were her family, living with her abroad. Amy died of meningitis. She was a vibrant person who will be missed by all who knew her, including me, even though I knew her only briefly.
It was a week ago today that I first received the news. One of my best friends just happened to be studying in Spain with Amy. They were close, traveling everywhere together, hanging out during the day, at nights and on weekends. In fact, she happened to be present in the hospital with Amy when she started slipping away from the world. One of the hardest things for a person to do is listen to someone you love tell you about watching a life pass right in front of them and it’s even harder to try and answer the questions that almost every person has when a person close to them, whom they love, dies. I have never had a more sobering experience in my entire life, and, truthfully, I never want to.
No one has an answer for why things like this happen; at least not one that seems to fit. But most take solace in this: We do not grieve for Amy, because we know Amy is in a better place. Right now, we weep because we no longer have her here with us in our lives. It sounds almost selfish, if you think about it, but it’s true.
So right now, in this time of great difficulty and sorrow, keep a special place in your heart for the people who are important to you. Whether it’s just by calling your parents to say you love them, or by hugging a friend when you see them. Because you only get two parents, and true friends are so hard to come by–friends like Amy King was to so many people. Also, keep the memory of Amy present in your thoughts, as well as her parents, friends and the small community of students who were studying abroad with her in your prayers. I am sure they will be thankful for all of the support they can get right now.
And yes, I cried when I heard the news about Amy, and I know many others did too. They say that one person can’t make a difference in people’s lives. But in many ways, Amy did.
Jack Smedile is a sophomore studying marketing.
