Life won't stop and wait for us to dry our eyes

ONE week, seven days, 168 hours, 10,080 minutes ... much can change in that span of time. This week, I experienced just how much. I felt how each day could change the ever twisting road of the future.

With what's going on around us and our own lives and problems, this week has been eventful, no less. And, as I sat down to type out this column, I couldn't decide what to write about. So I conceded by writing about the convoluted mass of events over the past week.

For starters, the world outside our secure four walls has been subject to much strife and sorrow. The explosions reverberated through my house as I sat, shut away from everything.

Over the past week, with the closure of schools, stores and offices, most of you must have been in the same state; salvaging for the truth from various news reports and internet feeds whilst reveling in the security of your homes.

While the world around me resounded with shots and the smell of tear gas, I was pelted with work. With a steady influx of homework, my teachers tried to make sure that I learned about neurotransmitters and operational amplifiers even if I was the last standing person on earth.

While talking about the monotony of my educational life, I come to another event of this week that has impacted me.

School always seems to be an ingrained part of our teenage lives; the same books, the same teachers, the same lessons, the same classrooms, the same old bus trip - so much so that if something happens out of place, it throws you off completely.

What if you went to school one day and realised one chair was vacant, one bus seat was empty, one smile was missing?

This week, we, in Sixth Form, lost somebody - a wonderful, strong girl by the name of Olivia Dewar.

She is known and loved by many for being an awesome friend who has touched the lives of many. I hope she rests well and knows that she is missed by many.

A lot of things happened over this past week - some more strongly impacting than others. Sometimes it feels overwhelming; the sheer magnitude of these situations.

Libya is still battling it out. Japan is still keeping its head high and fighting as a warrior should. Death tolls are rising. People are being left homeless and helpless.

But life keeps moving on and it's not going to wait for us to dry our eyes and dust our knees. So, take a deep breath and keep going. After all, a lot can happen in a week.