On a day when I would normally be lounging on a lawn chair enjoying the first holiday of summer, I spent it decorating my friend's gravesite with flowers. My dear friend Lauren Mulkey was taken from us on March 18 by a tragic traffic accident caused by a driver who ran a red light while using his cell phone.
Last week her classmates at East High School graduated and celebrated the beginning of a new journey in their lives. Along with the graduation ceremony, our brilliant Lauren was honored for her outstanding achievements while in high school.
Although Lauren fulfilled the necessary requirements for graduation a semester early and began her college studies at Westminster, she was going to walk in the graduation ceremony with her sea of friends. Her face was missing from the crowd of red and white caps and gowns, but her presence was felt in the hearts of all those at the ceremony.
I met Lauren during my sophomore year. Like everyone else I immediately became good friends with her. She was beautiful, popular and respected by all who knew her. Lauren was passionate about life, always positive, and had the most contagious laugh.
I was so jealous of her because even when she came to school in sweats and slippers, she was still the prettiest girl in class. I'm not the only one who envied her gorgeous green eyes and huge red lips; all the girls did. Had Lauren been any less awesome, we would have hated her because of this. But we couldn't because she was just too wonderful.
Those who knew Lauren know that she was so full of life and would encourage her many friends to live every day to the fullest, as she did. So many of us think of Lauren daily and the incredible impact she had on us. I can't help but smile or laugh when thinking of Lauren.
But what I, along with so many others, have experienced with her death is a tragedy that will always be hard for those who knew her to overcome.
It is my wish that we can all realize that when we drive a car we are navigating a potential weapon that could take someone's life. According to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, an estimated 2,600 people are killed in traffic accidents every year in the United States due to cell phone distraction. Still, these shocking statistics still don't deter drivers from using their cell phones while behind the wheel.
My hope is that some good will come from Lauren's tragic death, that our loss of her can serve as a reminder to motorists that it only takes a split second to do damage that we may never be able to undo. Utahns, I call on you to encourage your state representatives to ignore the persuasive contributions of the cell-phone industry - who lobby to keep distracted drivers on the road - and pass legislation that will crack down on distracted drivers.
Additionally, take charge of your own driving habits. It only takes an extra minute to do such simple things as putting your phone on silent in the car and returning calls and text messages when you reach your destination.
Pull over to eat your hamburger. Make a play list for your iPod so you won't touch the radio dial. And also, wear your seat belt and make certain that everyone who rides with you wears theirs. If we all keep these small things in mind when we drive our cars we can have a huge impact.
To you, my dear friend Lauren, we will always miss you, but we will never forget you.
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* LIZ FOXLEY lives in Salt Lake City and is a student at Westminster College.
