Van Ree's Voice

This year the world came together to survive a giant feat, the end of the Mayan calendar. While some shrugged off the idea of the world’s demise, others took it seriously. The build up of Dec. 21, 2012, will be noted in history.

I’ve heard the end of the world defined in many different ways. I’ve heard some people say the world would go up in an instant ball of fire, like a nuclear explosion. Others say the world would be under attack by a force unknown, be it a plague or people, leaving few survivors.

We fortunately did not find out the definition of this potential tragic event this month and all that’s left is to hypothesize what it could have been like.

Would the streets of Sidney instantly cease to exist? Would the streets be illuminated with sudden flame, only leaving those who had found shelter alive?

If you were one of those left after the end, what would your first reactions be? Try to find other life? Leave town, trying to survive and never look back?

Surely those left with their loved ones would cherish each other and plan an advance.

The East Coast being hit by Hurricane Sandy serves as a prime example of how life can turn in a minute and create what would seem like the end of the world to some.

To lose power, homes, see nothing but mass destruction around you, it may seem like the world is ending.

Even though we survived the end of the world, it doesn’t mean that other people’s worlds don’t still feel like they are crashing in around them on a daily basis.

While some took a more prepared approach to Dec. 21, others forgot that the world was supposedto end until our survival was celebrated.

My friend reminded me the night before the culminating day by calmly saying, “So yeah, sucks the world ends tomorrow.”

We decided to go out for Dairy Queen “End of the world blizzards” for desert, because end of the world or not, ice cream is delicious.

The thought of the world ending without any person or thing being able to change it brings to mind the idea of unstoppable power. A lot of things in life you can’t control, while others you can. But those things that you can’t control you usually never see coming. What if you were able to know and prepare for every bad thing that could happen to you?

There are movies about being able to change your future, but if you really held the power would you?

I personally believe that most things happen for a reason, good or bad; with the few exceptions to this rule being events like the Conn. shooting or untimely illnesses. Every bad situation that has been thrown at me has prepared me for the rest of my life. I was able to adapt and overcome the obstacles I never thought in a million years I would have to face and they made me a stronger individual because of them.

If you were able to stop every painful moment or scary thing that has happened to you, would you chance losing that part of the person you have become today?

Even though pain is never fun to experience, would you give up a piece of who you are to un-live it?

Though some believed the world would really end and others didn’t, there was almost more of a felt safety knowing.

Maybe that was because the event wouldn’t affect just you, it would affect everyone in the world. Maybe it was because Internet jokes were made and you could laugh at the event knowing no matter what there was nothing you could do? Maybe it made you reflect on your past, present and hopeful future.

Regardless, the end of the world for the population on Earth didn’t come this past week. But at the same time, it may have seemed like it to someone going through a rough patch. We can take this day as a moment of refection for our past, present and future or as just a moment to laugh and be proud we survived the end of the Mayan calendar. The choice is yours.

Contact Hannah Van Ree at [email protected]