Optimism

Erik Gray's Journals

#journalgems
Written Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Happiness is a choice. And you better believe it.

I've been told numerous time something to the sort of:

"Erik, you are the happiest person I know, despite all that you have been through. How??"

I've also heard, "I've never seen you angry," "I don't think a mad Erik even exists", or my personal favorite, "I'm laughing because I've never seen you mad and it's just so unreal to me."

Why are you so happy?

Optimism.

It's a choice.

We talked about this in my Institute Religion Class. It's from Jeffrey R. Holland:

"The Savior found delight in living!"

Me too!

Peace

Erik Gray's Journals

#journalgems

Written July 7, 2013

I didn't even plan to write right now.

I sat on my bed, got on my laptop, opened Facebook and Pandora, and plugged in my Skullcandy headphones (thank you McKell and the Hunstman staff).  It might've been the music choice, it might've been the hot chocolate I just drank, but for a moment, I just felt peace, and that for a moment, all was right with the world.

It's these moments of peace that I live for.

"Share my story and help others"

Erik Gray's Journals

#journalgems

Written February 14, 2013

For a Scholarship Application

I am not like other teenagers- I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15, a relapse at 18, and again that same year. Although I am not grateful in any way for the diagnosis itself, I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned and the experiences I have gained because of it. My parents say that I “had to grow up fast,” and I have always had the ability to easily talk to others and share my experience.

Some of my goals are to serve an LDS service mission, graduate from college with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Communications, pursue a career either in Broadcasting or Public Relations, and eventually become a motivational speaker, traveling around the state and country to share my story and to help others in dealing with challenges.

A scholarship from the American Cancer Society will help me with my academic career because it will help me to achieve my goals. On the road of life, it is the cab fare for the taxi from the “high school graduate” stop to the “college graduate” stop. The scholarship I have now will cover about half of the cost of tuition and books. If received, this scholarship will cover most of the other half of that amount. The money I receive from working and have in my bank accounts will help me pay for an apartment and to provide groceries, so that ultimately I will make more money than I spend and save up for an LDS service mission and for a future family.

I am excited for my life ahead of me and I hope that I can make a difference in the world. With the education I’m pursuing, I will be one step closer to achieving my goals.