Cameron's Reflection

     The short story, “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” made me think about what a powerful influence one life could have.  The hero in the story is Esteban.  He came to a tiny village of ordinary people who lived normal and average lives.  Even though he arrived dead, he impacted the village and surrounding areas for many years to follow.

     Young people are so often content living their lives in the status quo mode.  We are content in just surviving.  However, sometimes when an “Esteban” comes into our lives, he inspires us to rise above this status quo.  We become somewhat like the village people who were different after being introduced to the dead corpse!  We dream bigger dreams, and we want to take on the world.

     I often become comfortable with my life.  I go through the daily routines of going to school, doing homework, eating, sleeping, and playing golf.  I can do this for weeks at a time without much change.  Then, something or someone might come into my life to change the routine such as an awesome youth pastor, an inspirational story, or a miraculous hole in one on the eighteenth hole at Augusta with millions of people watching on the television.  When something like this happens, I stop to think about what I could do to live a better life.  I think what I can do to not be satisfied with just being average.  I then decide I want to live my live above the status quo.

     In conclusion, this story, “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World”, has made me realize in life I cannot settle for just being average.  I want to excel.