Chris' Response to Juan's Question

War is a devastating, terrifying act that almost has no equal. I have never experienced an event such as war.  I have never been effected by an event like that.  The closest thing do a devastating experience that I have had would have to be the breakup with my most recent girlfriend.  Her and I had gone to high school together and continued to know each other through a small movie theater that we worked at together.  Our flirty friendship inevitably escalated to the point of beginning a romantic relationship where we spent just about everyday in each other's company.  I had and have never connected to a person quite like that in my life up to that point.  At the time, I felt as if she and I were made for each other as this was during a time of air-headed bliss, more or less. We dated for about a year and five months and she had lived with me and slept in the same bed as I for about a year of that time.  She then eventually came to spring classes here at Columbia.  Three weeks later, I came to visit her on the day after Valentine's Day at the very place I am currently residing for the Bridge Program.  This ended up becoming the worst day of my life, as this is the day she ended our relationship.  Without getting into details, it broke me in an incredible way.  On top of this event, three weeks after the breakup, I had learned that she had become engaged.  This hurt me even more deep down, although I never showed it.  Still to this day, I am not the same, but continue to pick up the pieces.  The worst part of the situation was that I never saw it coming, as it was never expected on my part due to my lack of consciousness in the unconscious state of "love" I was in. Despite the painful emotions that came along, it has become a learning experience and I feel like a stronger person because of the events.