If you have ever watched musical covers on YouTube, you have likely encountered Christina Grimmie's channel. Or perhaps you saw her on "The Voice," where she finished in third place after captivating the judges with her breathtaking cover of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball." With the voice of an angel, Grimmie won the hearts of fans, with over three million YouTube followers and millions of other fans who rooted for her on "The Voice."
The 22-year-old singer seemed to have everything going to her. With her beauty and talent, Grimmie spent her days recording music and performing live for her adoring fans. With a lifetime of success to look forward to, tragedy struck on June 10, 2016 when Christina Grimmie was shot and killed after her concert in Orlando, Florida. The gunman was a 27-year-old white man, who proceeded to take his own life after shooting the singer.
When I first heard the news of Christina Grimmie's death, I was shocked. I had flashbacks to watching her videos as a kid, astounded by her vocal abilities and positive attitude. It did not seem real to me that someone with such a bright future could, in one moment, be gone forever. What really struck me in this tragedy, however, was Grimmie's age. At the young age of 22, Christina Grimmie's life had barely begun, and because of the horrific actions of one individual, her life was cut short. She would never have the chance to see her career reach its full potential, to get married, or to start a family of her own.
How could life be so unfair?
How could this happen?
When someone dies too soon, we are often left to make sense of a seemingly senseless situation. We want to understand why the tragedy happened, and if it could have been prevented. We want answers. We want closure. We want peace.
Unfortunately, the tragedy of Christina Grimmie's death is not one that can be easily understood. The world may never know what the shooter was thinking, or why such a bright star was the target of this heinous crime. Some questions simply cannot be answered. So instead of focusing on why this happened, we should be asking ourselves a different question.
What can we learn from this tragedy?
Life is short, unpredictable, and sometimes, cruel. Nobody is invincible in this world, and tomorrow is never guaranteed. In the blink of an eye, everything can change. So make the most of every moment; speak your mind, forgive others, and love the people around you. Enjoy the crazy ride that is life, for you never know when that ride may come to a screeching halt.
Let this lesson of living life to it's fullest be Christina Grimmie's legacy. Instead of focusing on her tragic death, we should focus on her motivation to follow her dreams, and remember to follow her example of living life to its fullest potential. After all, life is far too short to put your dreams off "until tomorrow," when tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone.
Rest in peace.
