In every persons life their comes a time when failure is opon them which creates a lesson. At the age of 17 years I had worked very hard to get my second truck, but I never expected the disastrous result I created due to my thoughtlessness and poor descicion making. Failure can be great breaker or maker for any person.

The summer of 2012 my father said to me, “Son you should get a truck especially with all the work you do on a daily basis!” I replied, “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea!” Little did I know that buying a truck would be the greatest money making decision and would ultimately be a great life lesson. This time of my life really taught me to respect my parent’s decisions.

I had just sold my prior vehicle and was looking for a truck when I came across a nice immaculate white truck that could get me started on selling firewood. It was a beuatifull glistening summer day in Colorado Springs when we arrived to test drive the truck. I got in and started the truck. We found nothing wrong with it, so I proceeded with the purchase. The next day I drove into the forest where their was a piece of land I had all to myself with an abundance of dead standing beatle kill. I hastily began cutting away! That summer I had cut nearly 100 cords of fire wood and sold them to neghbors, friends, family and did so effortlessly. I had made more money in a week than I could have made in a month working at a restaurant somewhere. The small buissness took off and before I knew it, I was buying tools, bikes, phones, and cars without a worry in the world. My father and mother said, “ Jeremy always have a back up and drive slow, it beats walking.” Little did I care feeling invincible. It was the month of December; the snow had just begun to build on the mountains. The trees were stacked with powder on their branches. we had just got out for Christmas break happy as could be driving home my sister in the passenger seat holding a cake. A close friend was in front of me driving particularly slow. It seemed he was waiting for me to catch up as I thought to myself. The roads were decently sanded, yet wet with some black ice here and there. As we approached, he began to go faster and faster until I assumed he wanted to race. The road was just about to become a straight away. My agile and very powerfull truck jolted. I was going for it. My heart raced as I turned about to reach the straight away. The truck began to lose control! I began to slide straight for the clif 40 feet to the bottom. My heart stopped I looked at my sister while throwing my hand to her chest. For a moment I heard nothing then a loud explosion of screeches and slams. Suddenly we stopped. I got out to grab my siter my sister was fine, but the truck totaled. I climbed up the cliff face to the road to find my friend no where in sight. We began to walk. We were suddenly approached by a car willing to pick us up. We were driven home and when we approached the door I grabbed the key. My hand shaking I opened it, we both sat for an hour without a word.

Nearly a year later, I think to myself what could have happened? Was I really lucky? What could have happened to my sister? I lost my business, my truck and almost my sister. I learned that driving should be taken most seriously and never be taken for granted. Driving slow really does beat walking!