When one of my favorite race car drivers, Dan Weldon, was killed in an accident in a 2011 Las Vegas race, the announcers said, "I prefer to say see you later when leaving my loved ones, because goodbye is so final. Goodbye, Dan Weldon."
Something like that.
The statement really had an impact on my life after that tragedy. I started taking that to heart, and saying "see you later" more often than "goodbye" because of how permanent goodbyes can be. It never really hit me until July 23, 2016.
Rewind to my first weeks in Parks Tower at the University of Toledo, August and September 2014. I was young and I was scared. But slowly over the weeks which became months, our floor became a tight knit group of people who shared many fun times together. On that floor is where I met Sierah Joughin, a very strong young lady. Sierah, her roommate Kelsie and I became good friends, staying up late to talk and joke when everyone else had gone to bed. One time, Sierah hid my laptop in my laundry basket and nearly had me in tears because I thought I had already failed at doing college. When I came asking for it she couldn't stop laughing. When we came back from Christmas break, we set a hallway golf tournament to the dismay of some other residents. It was so much fun. At the end of the first successful night of holes, Sierah had the lead. I can still remember her bouncing through the girls bathroom after her great shot.
This past Monday I had lunch with Sierah at Mayberry Diner. She was talking about studying abroad and moving jobs. She had such a head on her shoulders and such a drive for success.
That is what I will choose to remember about Sierah. I will remember how much we prayed for her. I will not choose to remember the man that took her away from me and all her other loved ones. I will choose to let this man's name die long before hers, for people die two deaths. Once when your pass away, and once more when your name is uttered for the final time.
It is not fair that at 20 years old, we have to bury our friend. It is not fair that she was taken from us when she was so ready to succeed in this world. But I suppose God works in mysterious ways, and for whatever reason, this is what was meant to happen. I might never understand why and I pray that we nor anyone else must go through this ever again.
I pray the justice system do its part and put the perpetrators away for life, at least. I pray the justice system change its laws so once a man or woman abducts a child, they stay away for life. The world has no use for people like this, and has every reason to need people like Sierah.
I will say "see you later" to my family when I return to school. I will say see you later to my friends when I go work out or go to class. I will say see you later to my brothers after meeting. To my beautiful, strong friend Sierah Joughin, goodbye.
