Death of a loved one free essay sample

On November 9, 2010, my best friend was pronounced dead due to asphyxiation caused by a drug overdose. Desmond Miller Harris was one of the thousands of people in the United States who died in the year 2010 from a drug overdose. Depending on the person and the situation, losing a loved one to drugs can impact people in several different ways and on multiple different levels. Some people move on quickly and are not affected in any way while others are stuck in a deep depression. This depression can cause some people to spiral out of control and lose who they once were. Others assess the situation and improve themselves as individuals. Watching my friend deteriorate while feeling hopeless to help him is something I will not likely ever forget. This traumatic happening is beneficial to me due to its effects on my life, which made me realize the impact that drugs have on us, who my true friends are, and what I want to do with my future. We will write a custom essay sample on Death of a loved one or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In my eyes, Desmond was someone whom I could always reach out to for support. When I moved to Hatfield in the year 2005, he was one of the first people I met. My friend and I had a bond that was unbreakable. We called each other brothers and stuck with one another till his last breath. Desmond died in 2010 from an Oxycontin and heroin overdose. It was a shocking experience to have gone through because I never thought that someone so close to me would die from drugs. I began to recognize that no one is infinite and this type of life-changing event could happen to anyone. Desmonds death made me realize the impact that drugs have on individuals and their families. People tend to lose their original personalities when they turn to drugs because they have this overwhelming feeling of guilt or remorse for their actions. In the past few years, I have watched many people fall apart due to the effects of drugs. Most of his friends became emotionally unstable and turned to drugs to ease the pain of losing a loved one. Desmond’s sister and father were most impacted by his death. The happiness that used to keep them together was swept away by negative emotions. Furthermore, Holidays and family traditions were hard to get through with Desmond’s absence. Some of the effects of his death have caused some family members to turn to unhealthy choices to numb the pain of their loss. Some unhealthy choices include drinking and drug use. Also, some of the consequences of their loss have led his survivors to isolation, depression and anxiety. Friendships were affected negatively throughout this traumatic experience in different ways. Desmonds addiction and subsequent death hurt and shocked everyone who knew him. Friends of Desmond began to blame each other and themselves for his death. Some of our friends became lost in their addictions. They began to drop out of school, lose their jobs and become apathetic to their relationships with family and friends. Others realized the seriousness of drugs and stopped doing them. Their friendships were affected, and they separated themselves from people who continued to use drugs. Experiencing the death of my best friend has given me a better understanding of what I want to do with my future. Although Desmond’s death was a very negative emotional experience for me, it led me in the right direction. His death has given me inspiration to achieve my goals and to help prevent others from having to face the pain I confront everyday from the loss of my friend. Some of the goals I have already achieved from the motivation I found from his absence are as follows: I became a volunteer fire fighter for Colmar, got a job working as a vendor for Herrs Inc.  and separated myself from people who were a negative influence on my life. More importantly, I am hoping to obtain a degree in criminal justice in order to keep drugs off our streets and prevent families from being impacted by drugs while having a positive influence on people like Desmond. Although it was sad to lose Desmond, he has taught me something that will always stick with me: Life is valuable, and the decisions I make not only impacts me, but also everyone around me. Desmond died due to a destructive lifestyle that he chose for himself. I learned that a negative experience can be quite powerful. This life-altering event was enough to set me on the right course to make positive decisions throughout my life. Although I will live my life with the pain of his death, and the loss of a friend, I will always keep him in my heart through everything I accomplish. He gave me a motivation and drive that, prior to his death, I myself did not know existed. For that, I could not be more grateful. Thank you, Desmond.