Physics, sleep, physics, sleep. Physics. I turn off the alarm, turn on the light and take the textbook from the bedside table. Today was just the start of another normal school day and I couldn't help but look forward to the weekend as I mentally reviewed Newton's three laws. As I turned to the next page of my notes, I was surprised by the sound of a doorbell. Who could be at the door at four? Could it just be a simple mistake? Maybe the wrong house? My intuition said otherwise; I knew something was wrong. My mother got out of bed and ran to the window. I heard the voices of my father's friends as my mother let them inside. The next thing I knew, I heard my mother crying as the two men tried to console her; my father was dead. In that instant, I felt as if the ground had been pulled from under me. Not knowing what to do with myself, I wondered how any of this could have happened. How could he be dead? He was only thirty-nine, he was healthy, he was happy. He had just called me from Dubai a few days ago, telling me he was having a wonderful time and was maybe going to Nairobi for a couple of days. What could have happened to him from the day of his last phone call to the day when - I stopped - I couldn't even think about saying the next word. Two weeks later, on the podium, in front of all my family and friends, I gave my father's eulogy. Holding back tears, I reflected on all that my father had accomplished throughout his life, on the wonderful moments we had shared together, and on everything he had taught me. My father and I have always shared a special bond that went beyond that of father and daughter. He was my best friend, my inspiration. It allowed me to...... middle of paper ...... out of the ordinary, we see it as a barrier in the path of our expected paths. When I accepted my father's death, I stopped seeing it as a barrier, but as part of my journey. Ever since I was little, my father had raised me into a stubborn and persevering young woman. He always told me that resilience is the key to life. If I could overcome an obstacle or recover from a strong blow, I could do anything. As I was dealing with his death, I thought about all the lessons he had taught me growing up. It was at that moment that I understood what the purpose of my father's death was. His death was an opportunity for me to test whether I could take everything he had instilled in me and use it when faced with such an obstacle. I took on this challenge, knowing it was time to prove to myself what I was made of, time to make my father proud.