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Laws of Life essay by Faith Fitzgerald (2nd Runner Up Statewide)

Faith is a 9th grade Thomasville High School Scholar's Academy Student

Lou Holtz once spoke, “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” This quote shows great meaning and shares a powerful message in my life. Matthew Swatzell was a firefighter in Dacula, Georgia at the time. He was excited to help people, make a positive impact on others’ lives, and start his career. Little did I know, he would change not only his life but mine. Matthew had just gotten off a twenty-four-hour shift and was extremely tired. He fell asleep at the wheel about three to four miles away from his house and hit an oncoming car head-on. It just so happens that the car that was hit was my mom’s car. I was about nineteen months old at the time and my mom, June, was seven months pregnant with my baby brother. Because Matthew hit the car head-on, the steering wheel was pushed into my mom’s stomach and caused her to immediately go into cardiac arrest; luckily, I had no serious injuries. She was rushed to the nearest hospital along with me. That morning my Dad had heard a banging on the door by the pastor at our local church telling him that my mom and I were in a car accident and that he needed to go to the hospital immediately. Once they got there, they were informed that my mom didn’t make it, and my baby brother didn’t make it either. In the sentencing process, my dad forgave Matthew and opted for the lesser charge. Because of legal issues, the two were advised not to see each other. On the two year anniversary of the accident, Matthew was walking up to Publix to get a card to share his condolences, and as he was walking up, he saw my dad by coincidence; the two talked in the parking lot for hours. The next day they went out to get some lunch to talk, and they both agreed that they should stay connected somehow. Because of them staying connected, my family and I still visit him to this day. Over time, my Dad and Matthew have a brotherly relationship because of his response to the tragedy. I think Lou Holtz’s quote “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it” goes along with my life perfectly. The fact that my mom passed away hurts greatly to me and my dad, but because of how my dad responded to the situation, Matthew’s life is well. He is married to a loving wife, with three amazing kids. If my dad had not chosen the lesser charge, it could have meant serious fines and even jail time. This also shows me the importance of how you respond to situations because it can change someone’s life. Not only has his decision made an impact on Matthew’s life and mine, but it has also made an impact on others’ lives. The Today Show invited them to be on the show. The episode aired in 2019, and there are multiple videos sharing this story on Youtube and Vimeo with over fifty thousand views. Through this story, God has shown how he can turn the worst situations into a positive influence on others.

Posted by Angela Williamson
April 9, 2020

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