Dear friends,

I want to tell you about Gabe Kwong. Gabe was a senior medical student at the University of Washington, a core coordinator for the Asian American Christian Fellowship, a well-known fashion junkie, a talented photographer, and most importantly, an inspirational friend. He died at the age of 18.

But even within those 18 years, Gabe lived. Gabe truly lived, and he probably lived more than some of us here today. Gabe didn’t sit around doing nothing,Gabe didn’t wait for opportunities to come, and Gabe didn’t wait for people to initiate opportunities and conversations. Instead he went out to China for a mission’s trip, reached out to those who were out casted, and became a leader for his fellowship. He impacted so many different lives that even till this day people are being changed by him, his work, and his story.

Some of us live as if we will live forever, taking each day, each greeting, each goodbye for granted, when in reality we’ll never know when we’ll disappear from this earth, just like Gabe, who unexpectedly got hit by a car on his way to work. If you died today, would you be proud of the life you lived? If you died today, would anyone remember you for the good things you’ve done?

When you examine the entire history of humanity, our lives are only but a blip in time. Our days here on this Earth are short, so why and waste them away selfishly? Time is extremely limited, and that’s why we need to look at those around us and use our talents and passions to serve our communities, so when we pass, people will look at our lives and say “yeah, that person lived well” or “yeah, that person made a difference.”

Knowing that we should make use of our time, we should spend our time wisely as soon as we can, things like volunteering at a homeless shelter or getting to know members in your community better. If we don’t we’re going to leave this Earth full of regrets.

I want each and every one of you to know that it’s not too late to start making your time investing in your communities and using what you’re passionate about to impact those around you. It’s not too late to break out of your vicious cycle of working a nine to five job or mindless studying and truly live. To give your best to the world, to become the best you that you can be.

As famous Canadian-Rap artist Drake once said, “Everybody dies, but not everybody lives.”

So what is your decision? Do you want to continue to live in a mundane and complacent cycle of working a nine to five job and go home to relax after the day ends, or do you want to live a life that leaves no regrets? The choice is in your hands.

Sincerely,

J C