Quod me nutrit me destruit

Teen With Epilepsy Has A Seizure When Her Service Dog Is Distracted

A recent graduate of West Catholic Preparatory High School in Philadelphia has been identified as one of the people killed in the Orlando nightclub massacre.

The death of 18-year-old Akyra Murray was announced in a post on the school’s websiteMonday afternoon.

She graduated third in her class just last week. The school said she was in Florida to celebrate her graduation and visit her brother.

Akyra Murray had just signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Mercyhurst University back on May 9th.

This one really hit me hard. Akyra is the youngest victim of the Pulse massacre. Like so many other queer young adults, she was likely visiting a gay club for one of her first few times. She was in town celebrating her recent graduation. It should have been just that–a celebration. My heart goes out to her family and all of the famlies affected by this tragedy. Rest in power, Akyra.

At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.   At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a suicidal single parent living on welfare.

At age 28, Wayne Coyne ( from The Flaming Lips) was a fry cook. At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.  At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.  At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home-dad working odd jobs. Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 39, and got her own cooking show at age 51. Vera Wang failed to make the Olympic figure skating team, didn’t get the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue, and designed her first dress at age 40. Stan Lee didn’t release his first big comic book until he was 40. Alan Rickman gave up his graphic design career to pursue acting at age 42. Samuel L. Jackson didn’t get his first movie role until he was 46.

Morgan Freeman landed his first movie role at age 52. Kathryn Bigelow only reached international success when she made The Hurt Locker at age 57. Grandma Moses didn’t begin her painting career until age 76. Louise Bourgeois didn’t become a famous artist until she was 78. Whatever your dream is, it is not too late to achieve it. You aren’t a failure because you haven’t found fame and fortune by the age of 21. Hell, it’s okay if you don’t even know what your dream is yet. Even if you’re flipping burgers, waiting tables or answering phones today, you never know where you’ll end up tomorrow. Never tell yourself you’re too old to make it. 

Never tell yourself you missed your chance. 

Never tell yourself that you aren’t good enough.