“Just when my life seemed hopeless, my inner voice started to sing.”

By Richard

I still recall the day when I stood beside a mighty river, ready to jump into it, hoping that it would drown me and take my life. A week before this haunting night, I had hated my life and had no reason to live anymore. People did not like me, parents did not understand me and I felt really bad inside.

When the water surrounded my feet I could feel the power of the current wanting to pull me into its darkness. I could hear the voice of the night telling me I should just end my life right here. That night, another part of me started to sing. It was singing the tune of life and that part of me wanted to live.

Secretly, I did not want to die. I wanted to go and visit other cities, I wanted to buy stuff and I wanted to become an actor. I wanted to attend college and I wanted to visit California.

Thankfully, when I stood there thinking about ending my life, I did not follow through with it. I realized that I have a chance to change my life. I began to see that I can make a life out of the life I am given. Even though there are hard times in life and even though there are challenging days, I know that I want to live.

Today I am grateful to be alive. I have been to many cities, I have done some acting and I even tried singing. I went to college and I make enough money to buy clothes and cool stuff, like a computer and even concert tickets.

Today if I am going to jump into a river, I make sure it's not a river that leads to death, but a river that leads to life.