Near-death experience gives new outlook
Tony Lee
Issue date: 4/30/10 Section: Opinion
I became a paid journalist last year, a medalist in a collegiate golf tournament two years ago and finished 435th out of 6,358 people at the 2007 World Series of Poker's main event.
But as monumental as those moments were, nothing impacted my life more than when I nearly died five years, two months and 11 days ago.
Since Feb. 19, 2005, I find strength from my second chance at life and take nothing for granted.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, one of my friends and I decided to take an hour-and-a-half road trip 90 miles north to Los Angeles.
Even though I drove at the proper speed limit, on Interstate 5, the car hydroplaned and spun three times directly into a tree.
Somehow, the car didn't flip or hit another car. Ironically, if we had missed that single tree, then we would have hit an onramp and died.
Sometimes on a rainy day, it brings me back to that eerie quietness in the car while it was spinning and the muted echo in my ears after the airbags exploded.
Today, only a 2-foot difference between the driver-side door and the left tire distinguishes me from being under 6 feet tall to 6 feet under ground.
Check tire tread depths, live every day like it could be your last and say I love you to everyone that matters.
But also remember there are things the sciences can't explain.
Maybe it's the Clare College education talking, but even as a lifetime agnostic, someone or something didn't want me to die that day.
I've viewed that exploding airbag as a sign of second chance and viewed St. Bonaventure University as the manifestation of that sign.
With finals next week, I'm finding the strength to study from that accident, even though I'm exhausted from this semester like most Bona's students.
The police report said the tires are the reason why I hydroplaned, and it's a coincidence I hit a tree just over three feet in diameter; but studying at the No. 1 Franciscan university in the world makes me believe differently.
In Clare 107, I've learned that everything can be a sign of higher power.
There are times when I want to pop open a beer can instead of a textbook, but someone or something led me 2,400 miles from home to Bonaventure.
Don't take for granted what we're learning. Don't realize a college education is crucial three years after a potentially life-ending accident.
Studying for a week will be more beneficial in the long run than prematurely planning the entire summer now.
e-mail: leetd09@sbu.edu
But as monumental as those moments were, nothing impacted my life more than when I nearly died five years, two months and 11 days ago.
Since Feb. 19, 2005, I find strength from my second chance at life and take nothing for granted.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, one of my friends and I decided to take an hour-and-a-half road trip 90 miles north to Los Angeles.
Even though I drove at the proper speed limit, on Interstate 5, the car hydroplaned and spun three times directly into a tree.
Somehow, the car didn't flip or hit another car. Ironically, if we had missed that single tree, then we would have hit an onramp and died.
Sometimes on a rainy day, it brings me back to that eerie quietness in the car while it was spinning and the muted echo in my ears after the airbags exploded.
Today, only a 2-foot difference between the driver-side door and the left tire distinguishes me from being under 6 feet tall to 6 feet under ground.
Check tire tread depths, live every day like it could be your last and say I love you to everyone that matters.
But also remember there are things the sciences can't explain.
Maybe it's the Clare College education talking, but even as a lifetime agnostic, someone or something didn't want me to die that day.
I've viewed that exploding airbag as a sign of second chance and viewed St. Bonaventure University as the manifestation of that sign.
With finals next week, I'm finding the strength to study from that accident, even though I'm exhausted from this semester like most Bona's students.
The police report said the tires are the reason why I hydroplaned, and it's a coincidence I hit a tree just over three feet in diameter; but studying at the No. 1 Franciscan university in the world makes me believe differently.
In Clare 107, I've learned that everything can be a sign of higher power.
There are times when I want to pop open a beer can instead of a textbook, but someone or something led me 2,400 miles from home to Bonaventure.
Don't take for granted what we're learning. Don't realize a college education is crucial three years after a potentially life-ending accident.
Studying for a week will be more beneficial in the long run than prematurely planning the entire summer now.
e-mail: leetd09@sbu.edu
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