Hello,
It is today the one year anniversary of my first ever New Year’s Speech, and I’d like this speech to be a longstanding tradition on my main blog, ”I’m Jeffrey Rex”. Last year I mentioned how I dedicated 2011 to Democracy, and this year I have another dedication to make; but I’ll get to it later onward. Sport has been a huge part of my life, this year as well as basically every year of my existence. And this year, well, it topped a lot of what I’ve experienced in my lifetime. Though I’m currently saddened by the fact that my Chicago Bears were officially ruled out of the NFL Playoffs yesterday, I must try to at least look at the positives of this year; ’cause there were a few – and one topped them all.
It is today the one year anniversary of my first ever New Year’s Speech, and I’d like this speech to be a longstanding tradition on my main blog, ”I’m Jeffrey Rex”. Last year I mentioned how I dedicated 2011 to Democracy, and this year I have another dedication to make; but I’ll get to it later onward. Sport has been a huge part of my life, this year as well as basically every year of my existence. And this year, well, it topped a lot of what I’ve experienced in my lifetime. Though I’m currently saddened by the fact that my Chicago Bears were officially ruled out of the NFL Playoffs yesterday, I must try to at least look at the positives of this year; ’cause there were a few – and one topped them all.
It has
nothing to do w/ the NFL, NBA or even Danish soccer. It does, however, have
something to do w/ the team I’ve supported longer than any other, my Chelsea
Football Club. The British “soccer” club made it all the way to the Champions
League Final, and finally we captured our first European Championship, mainly
due to heroic performances from Petr Cech and Didier Drogba. It all happened on
the 19th of May 2012, but, as I was to find out soon enough – it was
all down hill from thereon out. And as it turned out, it wasn’t only in my sporting
life the walls were crumbling down, my life was falling apart – nothing would
be as I had hoped.
Chelsea went from Champions of Europe, perhaps the best team in the world, to losing in all their 3 cup-finals after the Champions League success, FC København narrowly lost the Danish Superliga to FC Nordsjælland and finally Chicago Bears stumbled on the pavement of the regular season, and they never really got up from that. But long before this new disappointment, I completely crumbled. I had graduated from Odsherreds Gymnasium w/ a decent, or rather above average, Grade Point Average; so I was all set to apply for Law School at The University of Copenhagen – I felt glad when looking towards my new life. I was going to study Law, and later become a Lawyer or an Advocate, but alas, it was not to be. The accepted GPA increased, and I was sinking like a stone toward the bottom of the abyss – I didn’t get in. I was broken… Broken hearted and without faith I kept on sinking, it felt like my life was over. My big dream was shattered. Yet another hope broken, destroyed. I’d like to say I came out in the next round, and rolled with the punches – but then I’d be lying. I was lost, I felt alone. And I fell, fell into the despair that is the Shabbat Year.
So here I am, recharging my batteries – getting ready for a new round of fights at either the University of Copenhagen or the South Danish University, studying something that has to do with English or American Studies. My life hasn’t gotten easier, but I’ve moved on – and I’m getting ready to shut the door on 2012. But before I do that I have to dedicate this year to something, and I won’t be selfish; it really doesn’t have anything to do with me at all.
I was getting ready to look back on a year where a huge political election took place, when something awful happened in Connecticut. A man, only a year older than me, took the life of his own mother, six adult staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School and 20 children. Just writing that gives me chills. It was sickening, and never have I felt something this hard to bear. Maybe it’s me getting older, or perhaps it is indeed the severity of this singular shooting. I don’t know, but I did cry for those victims – and I prayed. I turned to God, and begged him to help the victims and their families. I’m not taking anything away from any other Shootings – cause they all inflict pain, but this felt different. It was pure evil, as stated elsewhere on probably a billion blogs around the world.
Without saying too much, I can say I don’t agree with what the NRA proposed on the 21st of December, not entirely. It must be controlled, yes, but we can’t let this level of fear spread into these classrooms. So, this year is dedicated to the victims of all mass shootings, and may we never forget the horror that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School – only then can we improve our society.
I believe this was the sixth school shooting in the US this year, and that is simply outrageous. We simply have to correct this, to fix it. I really hope that everyone will be safe in the New Year, and that we in one year won’t remember new horrors.
I would like to leave you with these words, that are entirely my own:
“We must always remember that we are not defined by our losses, but by our will to keep on fighting for this world - and perfecting it day by day.”
Thank you, and have a Happy New Year,
- I am Jeffrey Rex…
Chelsea went from Champions of Europe, perhaps the best team in the world, to losing in all their 3 cup-finals after the Champions League success, FC København narrowly lost the Danish Superliga to FC Nordsjælland and finally Chicago Bears stumbled on the pavement of the regular season, and they never really got up from that. But long before this new disappointment, I completely crumbled. I had graduated from Odsherreds Gymnasium w/ a decent, or rather above average, Grade Point Average; so I was all set to apply for Law School at The University of Copenhagen – I felt glad when looking towards my new life. I was going to study Law, and later become a Lawyer or an Advocate, but alas, it was not to be. The accepted GPA increased, and I was sinking like a stone toward the bottom of the abyss – I didn’t get in. I was broken… Broken hearted and without faith I kept on sinking, it felt like my life was over. My big dream was shattered. Yet another hope broken, destroyed. I’d like to say I came out in the next round, and rolled with the punches – but then I’d be lying. I was lost, I felt alone. And I fell, fell into the despair that is the Shabbat Year.
So here I am, recharging my batteries – getting ready for a new round of fights at either the University of Copenhagen or the South Danish University, studying something that has to do with English or American Studies. My life hasn’t gotten easier, but I’ve moved on – and I’m getting ready to shut the door on 2012. But before I do that I have to dedicate this year to something, and I won’t be selfish; it really doesn’t have anything to do with me at all.
I was getting ready to look back on a year where a huge political election took place, when something awful happened in Connecticut. A man, only a year older than me, took the life of his own mother, six adult staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School and 20 children. Just writing that gives me chills. It was sickening, and never have I felt something this hard to bear. Maybe it’s me getting older, or perhaps it is indeed the severity of this singular shooting. I don’t know, but I did cry for those victims – and I prayed. I turned to God, and begged him to help the victims and their families. I’m not taking anything away from any other Shootings – cause they all inflict pain, but this felt different. It was pure evil, as stated elsewhere on probably a billion blogs around the world.
Without saying too much, I can say I don’t agree with what the NRA proposed on the 21st of December, not entirely. It must be controlled, yes, but we can’t let this level of fear spread into these classrooms. So, this year is dedicated to the victims of all mass shootings, and may we never forget the horror that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School – only then can we improve our society.
I believe this was the sixth school shooting in the US this year, and that is simply outrageous. We simply have to correct this, to fix it. I really hope that everyone will be safe in the New Year, and that we in one year won’t remember new horrors.
I would like to leave you with these words, that are entirely my own:
“We must always remember that we are not defined by our losses, but by our will to keep on fighting for this world - and perfecting it day by day.”
Thank you, and have a Happy New Year,
- I am Jeffrey Rex…
