The morning of October 9th, 2017 was the morning that would alter my life as I knew it, and would bring challenges to me that I would have never expected to face at only 16. I woke up at two in the morning to my phone ringing and my mom frantically running down the hall shouting for my sister and me. My friend who lived close by was calling me and I expected her to be asking for a ride to school, but when I answered she yelled, “Have you evacuated yet?” I just woke up, and I didn’t yet know that the Tubbs Fire, which would end up being the most damaging fire in California’s history, was coming straight toward me and my family. All I grabbed was my phone and flip flops, then out we went, my mom and I in my car, and my dad and sister in the minivan; our cats were left behind. It was terrifying to see police and lines of cars outside my home so early in the morning, and to not know what was happening. As we were waiting to drive away, I asked my mom if she thought we would be homeless to which she responded, “Keegan, we are so far into the neighborhood the firemen will stop it before it gets to our house.”

   She was wrong. At 10 AM, my dad was anxious and wanted to go see if our home was still standing. As we got closer our hope began to fade. It didn’t hit me until I was standing in my old driveway looking at the rubble. There was nothing. Everything I had ever known was gone. The only home I had ever lived in, my pets, my childhood pictures, my Disneyland memorabilia, everything. This was the first time I saw my dad cry. Everything my parents had worked for was gone. Later that night I learned my school had burned down. My school was gone, my house was gone, all I had left was the family and friends in my life.

   This next year brought me the challenges of not having a school or home, which meant I would be moving twice, and driving 30 miles everyday to get to “school,” which was really just a gym that the entire junior class was crammed in. This was the most difficult year of school I ever completed, because I did not get help with my work and could not focus on school. At home it was even harder for me to complete school work because I had to take care of my sister and her homework while my parents were busy trying to get our home rebuilt. In the midst of all this, my father was put into the hospital and diagnosed with pancreatitis and diabetes. It was difficult for me to see him in the hospital like this, and now my entire family has changed our eating habits and implemented more activities to accommodate my father. My sanctuary at this time was volleyball. Getting to go out onto the court and be with my team, playing a game I loved, allowed me to be happy. Going through this experience as a team made us closer, and I now have connections with these teammates that will last a lifetime.

   These challenges have made me a stronger person, and have changed my perspectives on how I should live. I am closer with my family and friends, and now I appreciate being with my family every second I can, because you never know if that time will be taken from you. I have also gained a new mindset on life from this experience; I would rather do what I love and be with those I love than fill my life with material objects.

   Memories hold strong.