Death is an inevitable part of life. We all experience the death of a loved one throughout our lifetimes, yet every time it only seems to become harder to bear. Throughout the past few years, I've experienced the death of a grandfather, grandmother, dog, and classmate.

But this week was the first time I experienced the death of a best friend.

There have been so many feelings felt when trying to make sense of it all, and perhaps that's the most difficult part: we can't make sense of it.

The initial feeling felt when you find out about the passing of a friend is great pain and sorrow. You can't understand why such a thing would happen. You are saddened by the fact that you can no longer shoot them a text or hear their voice over the phone. You realize that you won't be receiving that daily Snapchat to maintain the streak.

You think of the most recent memory you had with your friend, and it's painful to know that that was the last one you were given with them on this earth.

The pain and the grieving is a long process, and it is one that truly never goes away. Because, when someone had such an impact on your life, you never truly 'get over' the loss of them. You learn to live with the pain, and you try to heal that pain and rebuild yourself.

The hole in your heart that felt like a piece of you was missing will be filled with the presence of your new guardian angel. You will be whole again one day, but you will not be the same.

You will be a better version of you. Every time you experience death, I believe that you learn to rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You take a piece of that loved one with you and they remain in your heart for the rest of your life. You owe it to them to carry out their legacy and live how they would.

Their impact on your life allows you to impact others.

Death reminds us all how fleeting life can be. It reminds us how important both family and community are because your community and your family comes together in magical ways during times of hardship.

During this hard time, people need someone to lean on, a shoulder to cry on, and a friend to talk to. Experiencing a loss as great as this reminded me how lucky I am to have all of these kinds of people present in my life.

The most important thing to remember, above all, is how much you are loved. You are loved by your family. You are loved by God. You are loved by your friends. You are loved by your community. You are so loved, more than you could imagine.

Life after loss is never easy, but by loving others and allowing yourself to be loved, you will begin to heal.