Everyone is going to die at some point. Some people are taken away from this earth way too early, and others are given a full life to live. However, I believe that everyone’s time will come when the great God above decides it is time. I don't think there is anything anyone can do to change the time of their death. Sure, you can take care of your body and try to prolong your life, but inevitably you are going to die when God decides it is time. This is why I choose to always live my life to the fullest.

People live their lives scared of so many things. It’s something I will never understand. Why should you be afraid of taking risks? Taking risks is what life is all about.

For my 18th birthday this year, I decided to go skydiving. I had countless people tell me not to do it. So many people told me I was stupid and that I could die. I’m not an idiot; I knew there was a chance of me dying when I jumped out of that plane. But I also know that there is a chance of me dying when I drive myself to school every morning. I wasn't scared for a second while I was skydiving. When I stepped out onto the edge of the plane, the thoughts running through my head while looking 13,000 feet down at the world below were not negative thoughts. Not once did I think, "Oh my gosh, what if I die?" Instead, I thought about how amazing this world is and how thankful I am to have the opportunities that I am given in this life.

If the good Lord above wanted to take my life while I was skydiving, He would have done it. You can’t live life scared of dying. If you do, you will miss out on a million things that could change your life forever. Not once have I taken a risk and regretted it. The only things I regret are the opportunities that I turn down.

My mom’s brother was killed by a drunk driver when he was only 21. When he got into the car that night, he had no idea that he was going to be in an accident that would take his life away. We have little to no control over when we are going to leave this world, so why try to prevent death? You can’t do it. Rather than being afraid of death, be afraid of not living. And by living I don't mean that your heart is beating and you're breathing. By living, I mean actually living your life to the fullest: taking chances, taking risks, and embracing this amazing world and the opportunities it has to offer.

You're cheating yourself if you don't take the opportunities offered to you. If someone asks you to go skydiving, go. If you have the chance to travel the world, do it. Don't pass up an opportunity that could change your life. Taking risks is what life is all about. Think about how boring this world would be if no one decided to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. Be bold. Do things out of the ordinary. Take risks. But above all, live life without fear, and trust that everything is going to turn out the way it is supposed to be.