Goodbye Alex

Some pictures from our Freshman dorm Holiday party

Last night I read some very disheartening news. My friend Alex who had been battling cancer for the past few years passed away. I was shocked. I haven't talked to Alex since the beginning of sophomore year and had thought he was getting better, not worse. It's weird being in California when all of my friends who know and love Alex are in Austin. It's hard being in California when all of my big support systems are in Austin.  But really it's hard knowing that this terrible thing called cancer isn't going away. Young people, people who are 20 years old should not be dying because of this terrible disease, and it's hard to see this happen. I met Alex my freshman year at UT, and like many others Nola and my dorm room became a hangout/sleep spot for him. While Alex and I didn't talk a ton, we saw each other a lot and got to be pretty good friends. When I think about Alex, I think about his smile and how he never seemed to let cancer bring him down. And when I picture him, I remember my freshman year, him and Nola arguing over pillow pets, Lucy and him rolling their eyes at each other  and all of us staying up late playing card games and making memories last. Alex was a wonderful person and I am honored to have had the pleasure of knowing him. I'll leave you all with the sweet words my friend Lucy wrote about him,

" I will continue on with no regrets, because that's what you would have wanted. But the least I need to do is give you a proper goodbye, since I didn't give myself the chance. You changed the life of every person you met with your kind words and even kinder spirit. When your body betrayed you, your soul never wavered. That strength has radiated to everyone who loves you . We now have a new purpose and a new motivation in life - to do things that you would have done, to make decisions you would have made. Thank you for being in my life, and for continuing to do so until we meet again. Goodbye, Alex - rest in peace and happiness forever." 

Lucy said it better than I ever could have. Alex's death is a good reminder to us all that none of us are guaranteed to live to be 100. Choose today, choose now to be doing what you what to be doing. Choose now to do more good for others than yourself. Choose now to be who you were meant to be. ...Because we never know when our "now" could be too late.

Thank you Alex, for being my friend.