Three of my closest friends were involved in an accident that received nationwide coverage (including the court trials and everything). The reason why this topic is particularly complicated is because the three friends survived and the person who came under died. The accident was the result of a steering lock at a turn in the road. The car was crushed to the point that the steering malfunction could not be investigated and the driver was taken to jail. I was informed through a vague call. Me and a few other friends spent the night looking for the 3 friends with very little and ambiguous information (due to confidentiality) on one of the most central roads in the city surrounded by pedestrians, policemen, army men, and the press. Looked in hospitals and homes of friends and families, trying to make calls, asking pedestrians who were threatening violence to anyone who knew those inside the car. It was a very difficult day, but the days that followed were even more difficult. I can write volumes about it but I can’t decide on what message I want to convey. The event changed us and our environment. But it’s such a risky topic particularly because I am close to the person who was declared guilty of murder without intent. What do you think?
Is there any way to make the situation vague despite the fact that it received national coverage?
I think it could make for a compelling essay, though the key will be making sure it’s still about you, not about your friend(s). I assume it gave you a different perspective on things like justice, life/death, etc. Personally I’d go all out and be pretty bold–why make it vague? If you lead with the line “My best friend was convicted of murder.” (or whatever) I would be glued to the essay (as long as the rest was good/about you lol).
The one thing I would caution: you clearly believe in your friend, for good reason I’m sure, but every case has nuance. Especially if a steering defect can’t be proven (ie: it’s conjecture), I wouldn’t make the central thesis of your essay about injustice if there is ANY grey area at all in the case. ie: if there was any DUI/drugs/reckless behavior involved (most vehicular homicide convictions do…), it’s not a good leg to stand on. Which, again, falls under: make it about you; make sure it reflects well on you.
@proudterrier I totally agree with your advice. Writing an essay centred around an accident that did not involve me and making it about myself is my main dilemma. I definitely do not want to put the perspective on justice. In fact, I don’t plan on mentioning the trial and legal stuff at all because I live in a country that is corrupt and has a legal system full of loopholes. The friend walked out after a week with no criminal record because the country allows for financial compensation (the friend paid in millions). I already belong to the class that is favoured by the justice system here so I can’t really crib about that. If not injustice, what else could I make this about? I feel that “discovering a new meaning for life” and all that jazz would be cliche. Should I just scratch the idea?
Is there a way to focus on just one narrow aspect of the situation and use that to reveal more about yourself? It could be too easy to get lost in the details of trying to recount the whole story which would just distract the reader’s attention from the objective of the essay.