Carpe Diem and a wake up call.

[MrsSparrow..]

I needed to make a message to someone, anyone that will listen.

It's a simple message, telling you to basically live everyday like its your last.

You have no idea how badly life is short.
And how you can die, literally at ANY time.

I've realised this way to much recently, and have been tempted to post a thread like this a few times after some really close friend's have had parents who have sadly passed away.

I attend a relatively small school, with about 600 people attending from the ages of 11-16. Today, we were shocked to learn that a girl who was in my year group, sadly passed away this morning.

This wasn't a death anyone was anticipating or expecting. It dropped out of nowhere and was really unexpected.

She was 15 years old. We would have been leaving school in a matter of months and she never got to complete or 'graduate' from our school. Waaay too young to die, and had not lived her life like she probably anticipated that she would.

It also made me realise, that people can die of any AGE and of ANYTHING. And most importantly, it can happen to you.

So, my topic of discussion, have you had anyone close to you or had an experience, that made you appreciate life much more? And make you realise that life is short, and worth taking risks?

Carpe Diem DISers, seize the day

Thanks for letting me blow off some thoughts

-Ashleigh

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I don't know why, but ever since I went away to college, I've become a much bigger risk-taker. Like I'm so much more spontaneous and I'm enjoying life so much more. I feel like if I do die, say, tomorrow, I think I'd be pretty content with spending eternity reliving my memories. I feel like there is A LOT more I want to accomplish and do before I die, but I'd be pretty happy with where I'm at now.

But thanks for the message. It's definitely something everyone should keep in the back of their minds.

I'm sorry you are dealing with so many losses recently. That's tough.

 

[imabrat]

Ash,
Having cancer has made me realize this so much. At first, I thought "I can't get cancer, it's only for old people". My tune has since changed. I take everyday as it comes and live for today, because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

As a teenager, kudos to you. Thank GOD you learned this lesson so early in life. Many teens thing "It can't happen to me", and it's simply not the case.

I really want to get the phrase "Carpe Diem" or something similar tattooed on my body. Cliche, I know, but it really has meaning for me.


OT, but what's the normal age to finish secondary school in the UK?

 

[MrsSparrow..]

I don't know why, but ever since I went away to college, I've become a much bigger risk-taker. Like I'm so much more spontaneous and I'm enjoying life so much more. I feel like if I do die, say, tomorrow, I think I'd be pretty content with spending eternity reliving my memories. I feel like there is A LOT more I want to accomplish and do before I die, but I'd be pretty happy with where I'm at now.

But thanks for the message. It's definitely something everyone should keep in the back of their minds.

I'm sorry you are dealing with so many losses recently. That's tough.

Thanks
I agree, taking risks does make life a bit more exciting

Ash,
Having cancer has made me realize this so much. At first, I thought "I can't get cancer, it's only for old people". My tune has since changed. I take everyday as it comes and live for today, because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

As a teenager, kudos to you. Thank GOD you learned this lesson so early in life. Many teens thing "It can't happen to me", and it's simply not the case.

I really want to get the phrase "Carpe Diem" or something similar tattooed on my body. Cliche, I know, but it really has meaning for me.


OT, but what's the normal age to finish secondary school in the UK?

Thanks Sonya
I totally agree about the cancer thing and the attitude that "it wont happen to me". You know that that kinda stuff happens, but when it happens to you or to someone close to you, it really surprises you.

I'd love to get that tattooed too, it seems quite a normal and overused quote to get done, but that it because it is amazing

And in answer to your question, generally, most schools in the UK have a sixth form, which means you'll start school at 11 years old and finish at 18. But some schools (like mine), go from Year 7 to Year 11, which is 11 years to 16, and after your 16, you have to go to a different school which has a sixth form, or a sixth form college - which is basically just Junior and Senior year.
But at the moment, you can drop out of school at 16, education isn't compulsory past that age. But apparantly that is going to change soon to 17/18.

Sorry if that made no sense Another UK DISer may be able to answer that better


Thanks guys, you've cheered me up a little

 

[chisnpeke]

Thanks
I agree, taking risks does make life a bit more exciting



Thanks Sonya
I totally agree about the cancer thing and the attitude that "it wont happen to me". You know that that kinda stuff happens, but when it happens to you or to someone close to you, it really surprises you.

I'd love to get that tattooed too, it seems quite a normal and overused quote to get done, but that it because it is amazing

And in answer to your question, generally, most schools in the UK have a sixth form, which means you'll start school at 11 years old and finish at 18. But some schools (like mine), go from Year 7 to Year 11, which is 11 years to 16, and after your 16, you have to go to a different school which has a sixth form, or a sixth form college - which is basically just Junior and Senior year.
But at the moment, you can drop out of school at 16, education isn't compulsory past that age. But apparantly that is going to change soon to 17/18.

Sorry if that made no sense Another UK DISer may be able to answer that better


Thanks guys, you've cheered me up a little

You can drop out of school at that age here (at least in my state) too. I think you have to have a job though.

Anyways, I try to live every day in a worthwhile manner. I'm not a huge risk taker though, which I think has to do with a huge fear of death. I have a fear of flying...I'm convinced that the plane I get on will crash. There are so many things I want to see though so I need to get over it. I know the logical thing is air travel is the safest form of transportation, but I can't get over it. I really want (and need!) to work on seizing the day and living my one life to its potential. I also think about freak things happening (brain aneurysm, car accident) almost every day so I it also helps me to realize that anything could happen.

 

[Cassidy]

That's EXACTLY why you guys should stop saying I have my entire life to live my dream.
You guys talk like you think I'm gonna live for like, 100 years.
Because, I won't. Maybe.
I could die tomorrow, you never know.
..
I love that saying, Carpe Deim.

 

[imabrat]

That's EXACTLY why you guys should stop saying I have my entire life to live my dream.
You guys talk like you think I'm gonna live for like, 100 years.
Because, I won't. Maybe.
I could die tomorrow, you never know.
..
I love that saying, Carpe Deim.

Wow, blame us. Maybe if you didn't like our advice you should ignore us. Next time you ask for advice I'll be sure to keep my thoughts to myself.

 

[KidGoofy]

This year was hard with many deaths.
My sister's friend's dad(we heard this the last day at WDW when we were leaving MK)
My Friend's brother(he really was like a brother to me)
A kid at my school(we had problems with each other but our school is a family and I was really hurt to hear it and when I saw the memorial thing we had I realized we did a lot together)
My friend's mother(never met her but he was a close friend)

I really have matured a lot, by realizing I should live life to the fullest, and finally realizing that life is a learning experience.

 

[GoofysOnlyGirl]

I completely agree with this. I know I don't always live my life completely spontaneous and out there, especially the past few years trying to get ready for college and getting money for college ect. But now that I have gotten in, gotten half of college paid for I have just been going out and having more and more fun. Like somedays I will just randomly drive to the beach with a close friend and just walk along until the sun sets then get ice cream or whatever. Or just doing something completely crazy. I wish I had more time to just relax, but senior year is tough and having a job is tough.

I know at least 10 people personally who have died in the last 4 years who were 19 and under. One story just gave me chills. She was a girl from middle school, she was 16 at the time, and her parents came home from a walk to find her dead. There were no drugs in her system, no reason for the death, just randomly had died. It was chilling, and every single person at that funeral I believe learned something from it. Idk, I have always been surrounded by death since and early age and it just hits me really hard. :/

 

[Cassidy]

Wow, blame us. Maybe if you didn't like our advice you should ignore us. Next time you ask for advice I'll be sure to keep my thoughts to myself.

Go ahead.


I really don't care.
It's not anything you say to me is nice.

 

[chisnpeke]

That's EXACTLY why you guys should stop saying I have my entire life to live my dream.
You guys talk like you think I'm gonna live for like, 100 years.
Because, I won't. Maybe.
I could die tomorrow, you never know.
..
I love that saying, Carpe Deim.

I'm confused. What is your dream?

 

[HouseMD1120]

Guys, seriously, this is just opinions. It's not that big of a deal if you don't agree with someone, just ignore the comment and move on. No reason to get into a fight.

I agree that you have to live your live to the fullest, but I also agree that you never know when you're going to die. God knows when he's going to take you.

 

[Sparx]

when you have been dead for one hundred years, you have only just begun to be dead. we're living on borrowed time, and if you don't put your heart on the line, you're never really living at all.

 

[OneTreeHill]

Yeah.
Last year, when I was in ninth grade, an eighth grader died. He was 15. Waaaaay too young to die. But, he died doing something he loved. He was a motocross racer. He lived each day to the fullest, and shouldn't have died so young.

Then the end of last year, an eleventh grader died. He was hit by a drunk driver.
Life can definitley be cut short.

I definitley know that, and try to live each day to the fullest.

 

[KidGoofy]

Yeah.
Last year, when I was in ninth grade, an eighth grader died. He was 15. Waaaaay too young to die. But, he died doing something he loved. He was a motocross racer. He lived each day to the fullest, and shouldn't have died so young.

Then the end of last year, an eleventh grader died. He was hit by a drunk driver.
Life can definitley be cut short.

I definitley know that, and try to live each day to the fullest.

The kid who got killed this year who was in my class was a motocross freestyler, but he died riding an atv because his atv over-turned on him ane fell into water an drowned. I feel terrible because that is one way I don't want to die

 

[JulielovesDisney]

This message has just been recently reinforced in my life. A girl in my Freshman class died yesterday. She wasn't feeling well so she went to the hospital. Then the next morning, she died. It was so sudden, and she was so young...it's awful. I got so scared. It really opened up my eyes even more...it's such a scary thought that your life could end in a moment and everything you've ever worked for and wanted is gone, forever.

Everyone is so upset over this. One of my good friends here knew her and he was all messed up yesterday when he found out. I feel awful. I never met the girl, but it still struck close to home because my school is so small. It's soo scary.

Carpe Diem everyone, and R.I.P. Heather.