Celebrate Life For It Doesn't Last Long Enough

This week has been so hectic and exciting! So many great things have happened and so many decisions have been made.

I think the best part of this week was Wednesday. Wednesday was World Autism Awareness Day, and for my Women and Gender Studies class my group partners and I set up a table where we passed out cupcakes and other sweet treats to students and faculty in a way to help raise awareness about Autism. Everything was blue, because there is a campaign known as Light It Up Blue, which is meant to "Help shine a light on Autism". It was great to be a part of this event and to organize it at school.

After we closed down our booth I had to go to English class. My mom decided to wait for me in the hallway outside class. My professor saw her sitting there waiting and invited her to sit in class. Yes, I am that person who is absolutely chill with the idea of dragging my mom with me through college. She goes to pretty much every event I attend, she eats with me on campus, goes with me to the library or to meet partners in group projects and now she has gone to a class with me. It's crazy that people see her and automatically recognize her because she is my mom.

Later on, when my mom and I were on our way home she mentioned that Wednesday was April 2nd, the day that 18 years ago my GaGa passed away. I felt bad because I had forgotten, but my mom said not to worry because GaGa would've been proud of me for working hard in school and being so involved and passionate about it.

This got me to the thinking. April 2nd is the anniversary of her death and also World Autism Awareness Day. Two very important things in my life. It's a coincidence that these two events occur on the same day, but for me it's more than just a coincidence. To me it is a sign, maybe she is watching over us and that instead of being sad she is gone, she wants us to be happy and work hard to improve the world for Ethan, and other children like him.

While working the table for my group, a guy came up, and I instantly knew. It's hard to explain but after years of basically being immersed in a group of children you know when someone is different. Being different isn't bad, sometimes it's actually the best thing ever. This guy came up and asked if we were for inclusion not separation of those who were on the spectrum. My answer: Of course. He smiled and then began to talk to my mom about how he had gone to DC to talk with them about why there should be more inclusion. It is so wonderful the work he is doing.

This past week has had me thinking a lot about life and I have come to this conclusion. Life should be celebrated and enjoyed because a lifetime is not very long at all.

Picture collage of my family