This is something that is incredibly difficult for me to write about. On Feb. 26, 2014 I almost died. Not metaphorically, not hypothetically — I literally almost didn't make it out alive. However, I'm still here and I won't go into speculations on why, but I will tell you the story exactly through my eyes, so if this scares you in any way, don't read ahead.

I remember I had one lab that day for my Exercise Physiology class and for some reason I wore my favorite striped sweater and corduroys that day to a lab involving a heat tent. We were studying the psychological responses to exercising in the heat, or something like that. The lab concluded and I had plans to go with my old boss and a co worker to Shady Maple since I had never been and I was obviously extremely excited. I got in my car and started heading home.

I remember thinking I should take the way through Stroudsburg and Schoolhouse Road, but Interstate 80 was much faster to get home, so I quickly got rid of that thought. I got onto the ramp and saw that an 18-wheeler was coming, but what seemed to not be going quickly. I also had noticed that the left lane was completely open, so I chose to go in front of him. This is what I thought, but what I didn't know would be that my car wouldn't pick up speed. I recall looking at my rear view mirror and noticing the 18 wheeler right on top of me.

People will tell you they see their whole life flash before their eyes before death and this notion is incredibly true. I thought of the times my brother and I would fight as a kid, the times I would fight with my parents, the times I went on dates and messed up the relationship, the times I got drunk with my friends on a Saturday night, the times I would never get back. Everything outside pretty much went a bright white light when my car hit the median, and my head hit the steering wheel. I kept thinking how if a car was in that left lane that day, I would've also been dead, but I lucked out in ways more than one. I managed to steer my car off the highway, and tried to recollect myself a bit on the events that happened. I lost my glasses, all windows were shattered, and I was in no pain because of the adrenaline rush.

I didn't worry about anything else, but getting out of my car next. I took off my seatbelt and headed over to the passenger seat. This is when I realized that I was in worse shape than I thought because blood dripped on my seat. I tried getting out of the passenger door and it wouldn't budge. I tried the back door and that was also locked in, but I kicked it several times open and finally managed to get it open. I got out, and managed to walk out under my own terms. Another 18-wheeler driver (not the one that hit me) came up to me and happened to be an ex-medic from the military. He wanted to know my information because he knew I would pass out from all the blood loss. I told him everything, and I managed to find my phone, and I called my dad. I explained what happened, and that I'll be admitted into Pocono Medical Center, to not worry, and that I love him. I didn't know if that would be the last time I heard his voice or not.

The ambulance came after no more than 10 minutes. I tried explaining to them that I was fine, but apparently I looked a lot worse off than I thought because they wasted little to no time getting me in the ambulance. They hooked me up to IVs, tried to keep my calm and worked faster than I've ever seen human beings work ever. This is when I started to notice things getting a bit hazy. When I looked at the back door of the ambulance there was this one squiggly line that wouldn't go away. I was fascinated by why it was there and then I noticed that the walls around my eyes started to blacken more. I quickly began to ask the paramedics what my blood pressure was, but I never heard the answer because I passed out.

I woke up eventually with my parents around me. I began to laugh as a strange relief that I was alive and then I began to cry. I told my mom that I thought that was it, I thought I was dead. I never want to tell my mom those words again. I never want to see my parents in the pain I caused them that day. My dad lectured me on just how lucky I am to be alive and then showed me pictures he took of my car (the one included in this article). I couldn't believe just how lucky I was to make it out. I walked away from that day with several stitches and staples in my head, and a really bad back injury that lasted many months. I walked away almost completely unscathed.

Two years later, I'm really still not over that day. There are not many days where I don't close my eyes and think about how that 18-wheeler is right on top of me in my rear view mirror. I don't care what anybody says, this is something you don't get over. Near death experiences last more than just several years after the fact. I don't think about the times I wouldn't get back if I wasn't here. You can't look at it that way. Instead, I think about how fortunate I am to still be here as a normal human being without any problems. I think about the times I get to spend with my friends still, the times I get to be with the people I love. You always take things for granted throughout your entire life, you know? Take it from me, don't take any day in your life for granted because it can quickly be gone just like that.