On April 14, the sailboat Low Speed Chase embarked on the 54 mile Farallones race in the bay area. Jordan Fromm was not only a member of an eight-person crew, but also one of my very best friends since freshman year of high school.
Turning around the island, an immense wave pummeled the sailboat, knocking two members into the ocean.
Seconds later, a second incessant wave hit, heaving another five members into the sea. Nick Vos was the only member who remained onboard. Due to the weather conditions that day, the yacht was thrust against the rocks of the South Farallons.
When the coast guard arrived, one member was found dead in the water and four were missing, including Jordan Fromm.
Desperate to carry on, I simply checked out. I missed class, work, and various commitments. I shut off my emotions. I turned away from my friends and family and tried to remain blank for as long as I could.
Finally, in a conversation with my mom, I let it all go, which I feel was the straw that broke to force my recovery.
When something such as this happens in our lives, sometimes the only way to deal is to disappear. But, this does not allow us to heal.
Unfortunately, death is a part of life and I am not the only one dealing with this horrifying incident. I have friends and family members that have lost parents, brother, sisters and lovers.
Instead of choosing to ignore death like our society has taught us to and turning away from the pain and pretending that everything is fine, it is so important to cope with death by turning towards it. When people ignore their feelings, they often linger and ultimately consume us.
There is an abundance of resources for our well being on campus including grief counselors, advisors, and guest speakers. They are all understanding of our circumstances and our unique methods of coping.
The most important thing to remember is not to disappear in difficult times.
What helped me was realizing that I was not alone.
Being part of a college campus such Cal State Long Beach creates so many opportunities for support.
Initially, I thought it was okay to just run from the pain, but when I finally realized I had to face the truth and began expressing my feelings of anguish, the pain started to move through me and eventually lessen.
Dealing with pain does not mean that it will ever truly disappear. I will always feel some sort of emptiness when I think of one of my closest friends. He will always remain in my heart and memories and will live on in my dreams.
Rebecca Eisenberg is a senior communications major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er.
