Gifts From A Friend
Sigma Theta Chi
Last Updated: 9/30/08 Section: In Memoriam
We found ourselves answering our cell phones, walking through South Quad, overhearing our friends. The news arrives. A loved one is no longer with us. What is it about death that always leaves us staring blankly into the sky, the ground, or anything that takes our minds away from the reality that a friend is gone?
Each of our physical responses is similar, yet our thoughts and emotions are unique. Does someone leaving us make us question our mortality and faith? As college students, many of us focus on short-sighted goals - getting good grades, receiving summer internships, and securing post-college employment in an ailing economy. The death of our friend forces us to reevaluate our priorities. It reminds us that our aspirations should align with the lasting impact we would like to have on the world and those around us.
The thought of attending Atul's memorial service left many of us anxious and sorrowful. We all knew the man Atul had become, and having finally to face the reality that our friend was truly gone forever was a task more challenging than the complex physics finals Atul casually aced.
Arriving at the church, we were greeted with the tears and smiles of people that had known Atul Vyas from different stages in his life. There were family members that had known him since his birth, those that knew him during his education, and those who were indirectly affected by Atul although they never knew him personally. Among those Atul affected, sat us, his college friends. Knowing that we had each other during this painful time helped carry us through such a troubling time.
We sat down together, and music played as pictures representing our friend's relationships and life experiences floated past. Soon we began to realize that the Atul we knew in college was a lot different from the Atul known to those who watched him grow from a boy to a man. The service proceeded, and those who knew Atul best spoke about the man they remembered and the great potential he possessed. As they told stories of our friend, it felt as though Atul was there with us. Our expectations of a service filled with pain and regret over the loss of a young life were quickly replaced with a calm sense that everything was going to be okay.
Atul had been a tutor to a great number of people, and through his passing he still teaches us. As we continue to learn about our friend and the life that he led before he came into our lives, it is important to celebrate the impact that he continues to have.
If there is one lesson our friend could help us better understand, it would be that of service and self-sacrifice. Atul did not live for the glory or praise of others. Instead he sought to make a difference by doing the small things that few people noticed. He would want us to follow his example, no matter how insignificant or small our actions may seem. So the next time a friend or a stranger needs help, think twice before you brush them off. It only takes a little to make a big difference in the lives of others.
Each of our physical responses is similar, yet our thoughts and emotions are unique. Does someone leaving us make us question our mortality and faith? As college students, many of us focus on short-sighted goals - getting good grades, receiving summer internships, and securing post-college employment in an ailing economy. The death of our friend forces us to reevaluate our priorities. It reminds us that our aspirations should align with the lasting impact we would like to have on the world and those around us.
The thought of attending Atul's memorial service left many of us anxious and sorrowful. We all knew the man Atul had become, and having finally to face the reality that our friend was truly gone forever was a task more challenging than the complex physics finals Atul casually aced.
Arriving at the church, we were greeted with the tears and smiles of people that had known Atul Vyas from different stages in his life. There were family members that had known him since his birth, those that knew him during his education, and those who were indirectly affected by Atul although they never knew him personally. Among those Atul affected, sat us, his college friends. Knowing that we had each other during this painful time helped carry us through such a troubling time.
We sat down together, and music played as pictures representing our friend's relationships and life experiences floated past. Soon we began to realize that the Atul we knew in college was a lot different from the Atul known to those who watched him grow from a boy to a man. The service proceeded, and those who knew Atul best spoke about the man they remembered and the great potential he possessed. As they told stories of our friend, it felt as though Atul was there with us. Our expectations of a service filled with pain and regret over the loss of a young life were quickly replaced with a calm sense that everything was going to be okay.
Atul had been a tutor to a great number of people, and through his passing he still teaches us. As we continue to learn about our friend and the life that he led before he came into our lives, it is important to celebrate the impact that he continues to have.
If there is one lesson our friend could help us better understand, it would be that of service and self-sacrifice. Atul did not live for the glory or praise of others. Instead he sought to make a difference by doing the small things that few people noticed. He would want us to follow his example, no matter how insignificant or small our actions may seem. So the next time a friend or a stranger needs help, think twice before you brush them off. It only takes a little to make a big difference in the lives of others.
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