Flash back to being five years old. You are awaken from a nightmare, and where is the first place you run to? At this age you look to your parents for protection, you crawl into bed with them, and the feeling of security returns. Now picture being that same five-year-old and you’re at the park, swinging, higher and higher. The wind is rushing past you, and as you soar through the sky, you feel as if nothing can stop you.

You’ve reached your designated height and it’s time to jump, at this age you don’t even second-guess this leap of faith. On the way down the pebbles skin your knee, but that’s nothing a Band-Aid can’t fix.

You are no longer that five-year-old and instead you are an angsty teenager. Relying on your parents for comfort is a last resort and you’d rather confide in your middle school girlfriends. Your friends are beginning to all become licensed drivers and you can feel that wind rushing past you again as well as freedom at your fingertips.

You run further and further away from your parents' grasp when all they want is to keep you safe. You’ve grown up in this euphoria and feel as if you’re invincible but the sad truth is, you are not.

“It won’t happen to me.” That’s the mentality our society has nowadays. Sure, it may not happen to you, but it could happen to someone you know, your best friend, or a family member. You can only put on a naïve front for so long until tragedy strikes, sending your mind into a downward spiral as to how this could have happened. Yes, you can’t go through life fearing that something bad will happen; however, being aware is better than being ignorant.

Living by the “it won’t happen to me” mentality is selfish, and can cause you to make decisions that could put your life or someone else’s at risk. As you get older you will witness more tragedy. You’ll soon realize that the quote “Only the good die young,” holds true on many occasions.

It is a harsh reality check, and that’s why you should hold the ones you love close. The only thing to do when these tragedies occur is to learn from them, and create a better you.

Our body is our temple and it can only handle so much damage. Be smart with what you expose your body to, because you only get one life. Show appreciation towards your parents for providing you with a safe environment to grow up in. And lastly, remember, it could happen to you. You are not as invincible as you may think, and if you don’t sometimes consider consequences, something may end up happening that you didn’t intend to. Time is scarce and you were put here for a reason. Don’t cut your life short by believing this foolish mentality.

“Life is fragile. We’re not guaranteed a tomorrow so give it everything you’ve got.” –Tim Cook