An outlook on young adult interests and concerns
By Malik Stevens

Cherish What You Have

As we prepare for the Christmas holiday we should not forget what the true meaning of the holiday is, which is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to enjoy the company of our family and friends.  

At first, I thought that the holiday was about giving and receiving gifts, attending parties, and sleeping in late, but after a quite tragic accident, its real meaning became clear to me.  

December 22, 2004 was what I thought would have been a regular day at school for me. It was the day before Christmas break and a half-day for those who went to school.

After school that day I went straight home, took a shower, and got ready to go to the Youth Center (where I spent most of my time then). Before doing this, however, I came to an abrupt stop due to the tragic news I had just heard from my uncle.
He came in the house, and in the most serene manner, told me and my brother who was in the house with me that someone had been run over in Cruz Bay.

At first, I thought to myself that it was probably some grown folk who had gotten hit and had probably broken an arm or a leg. I did not think it was anything serious; but what had truly happened could not even compare to what my first thoughts were.
My younger brother, Marcus, was cruising through Cruz Bay when he heard the news. He took a look at the scene and hurried straight home.

Right after my uncle told me what happened, Marcus ran through the back door with a hysterical look on face. He said that our younger brother, Javon Jade Alfred, had just been run over by the Bellows delivery truck and was rushed to the clinic.

Nonetheless, I was still convinced that the incident was not anything big, but I hurried to the scene. I was too late. They had already taken my brother to the clinic and by the looks of everything the accident was indeed serious. At that moment I could not think clearly.

I scurried up to the clinic, and in my mind all I could do was pray, hope, and wish that he was all right, and whoever did it would suffer. In a matter of a minute upon my arrival at the clinic, the news was broken to us that Javon was dead.

All I could remember was physically feeling my blood stop and everything in my head, except thoughts of Javon, leaving. I did not know what to do.

I just went straight home and fell asleep. I woke up, hoping it was only a nightmare, but I was wrong, again. This was definitely the worst day of my entire life.

Through this event I have learned two life changing lessons. People from a lower class never seem to get real justice in this world of ours.

It is such a coincidence that this accident took place around the holiday season because the biggest lesson that I’ve learned is to cherish things, and most importantly, people while you have them. Many people think that if you do not receive what you want for Christmas, or in some cases nothing at all, you can not enjoy the holidays.

But all those things are just material additives to the true essence of the holidays. The holidays are for families to get close to one another, and after experiencing my brother’s death it is easy for me to realize this.

I wish I could see him one last time to tell him just how much I care. This Christmas make sure to tell all your family and friends how much you really love them, because in the blink of an eye they might be gone.