Three Pillars: Pillar No. 2

Dustin Coats           

“It’s going to be a beautiful day!”

I find the quote above to be very comforting—especially on those rainy days when I don’t want to get out of bed! Dustin Coats was a childhood friend that has taught me the importance of enjoying life to the fullest. It is all too often that we, as individuals, are given opportunities in life that we do not accept. Whether it is because our minds tell us that we are not prepared for the challenge, or maybe we just don’t think it is the right time in our lives to enjoy what has been given to us. What if things were different though? What if you could honestly understand the concept that tomorrow was not promised to you? What if you were given a small window of time to actually enjoy life? Would you do everything you could to make a positive impact on the lives of others, while constantly working hard to become the best person that you could possibly be? My childhood experience with Dustin demonstrates the importance of understanding the fragile nature of life.


At an early age, it seemed as though Dustin Coats and I were destined to hate each other. Being a wild and rambunctious child starving to be the center of attention, it was easy to see why a very quiet and conservative child like myself could not get along with him. Apparently it was cool to pour Gatorade all over your head after a baseball game; I didn’t see the appeal of having sticky hair. We definitely had one of those love/hate friendships. Being very shy, it was easy for him to embarrass me with suggestive remarks about certain classmates of the opposite sex. What is even more embarrassing is when you go home and ask your mother, “What does it mean to Wednesday a girl?” Confused by this? It is a bit of a thinker, but I want to keep this blog post as G-rated as possible. Anyways, boys will be boys!


Throughout middle school, Dustin and I became somewhat closer; maybe it was because we really didn’t see each other much off of the basketball court. Rather than loving-to-hate Dustin, I guess it is safe for me to say that I hated-to-love the guy. There is definitely something to be said about growing older and learning what it takes to impress a girl that really impacts the behavior of a young man. Dustin had calmed down dramatically; he graduated from being overly rambunctious to what I would like to call charismatic.


Freshman year of high school was the defining point of our friendship. We were very similar in physical appearance; therefore, our basketball coaches frequently mixed up our names. We were both very passionate about basketball, so we strengthened our bond by becoming unified under the Gordon Central High School Warriors Baskeball brand. We ran together; worked on our jump shots together; and we even sat on the bench together.


During our sophomore year of high school, I decided to take a year off from basketball and focus on other aspects of life. I took up the hobby of collecting autographs from professional athletes. I often found myself traveling to Atlanta almost every other week to attend a sporting event. I attended so many Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks game; however, one specific game sticks out in my mind the most. The Washington Wizards were set to take on the Atlanta Hawks in Phillips arena. Michael Jordan had previously come out of retirement, so I planned to attend the game in hopes of getting his autograph. I knew that this would be a memorable experience, and I wanted to share it with Dustin. The only problem that Dustin faced was that the game was on a school night, so he would have to miss basketball practice in order to go to the game. Dustin was very committed to the team, and he worked hard to earn every minute of playing time that was given to him. I honestly did not think Dustin would go. He surprised me though by saying, “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity; I may never get another chance like this—I can go.” Truer words were never spoken, and I never knew that these words would be so significant in my life.


It was only a few months later when it happened. I was woken early in the morning by my mother. Just another school day I thought, but it was much more. My mother sat me down and explained to me that there was an accident the previous night. A few of my friends had gotten in a wreck on their way back home from Kennesaw--one of my friends had gotten killed. As soon as the name Dustin Coats came from her mouth, I was hit by the coldest chill that I had ever felt in my life. I had experienced the death of loved ones before, but his passing was so different. He was so young; so full of life; he was like a brother. I could not get a complete understanding of the situation; however, I was led through it by the strength and compassion of my mother and mutual friends.


Unless you have been in a similar situation, you could not understand what it is like to bury a close friend at the age of 15. Honestly, I hope you never have to face this situation. There is not a day that goes by that Dustin does not come across my mind in some way, shape, or form. I am so thankful for having Dustin in my life, and for having the opportunity to grow and learn with him. He will leave an everlasting impact on those who knew him, and he will be forever missed. I have learned so much through this experience, and I have a much better understanding of the value of life. I will be forever humble, and I will take chances on opportunities that come my way.