This past week, I lost a friend. Though I only knew her for four months, we became really close. I met her at Panera Bread where we both worked. She was the kindest, most genuine and honest person you could ever meet. She had the brightest smile and the warmest hugs. She loved everyone no matter what they looked like or whether or not they were popular; she even loved and showed love to people who didn't show her love. Her name was Amberlee Carroll and I miss her more then I can explain. I've never been good with death ever—I get emotional and moody and I lash out. I mostly lash out because I start to think that there are rapists, murderers, and terrorists that deserve to die and that this angel of a person was taken at the age of 18. And it's not fair, but then I stop myself and I think, "Actually, God took her because she was too beautiful for this world." In a speech she gave to her class during graduation, she said,

"Some people make an impression, good or bad, but I don't need to know every person in order to know I've made my own impression."

Truer words have never been spoken about this girl and even she knew she left an impression on all of us. And I'm just in complete shock that she is really gone, so for all of you reading this, please just try and love life a little more; be a little less angry and try and see the beauty in even the simplest of things for that is what this beautiful angel and her family would want.