Mike Cisternas was a beautiful soul that touched all who he came in contact with. He was always smiling and beaming with joy. He was someone who sincerely loved life. He was a sophomore at Smithtown West High School.
Something terrible happened that took Mike away from us. In January of 2010, Mike was in the passenger seat of a vehicle that was driving home from a weekly youth group meeting at his church. He never made it home that night, a car crash took his life.
Mike was a member of the Track & Field team that I was a part of. He was a dedicated hurdler who came to practice each day and gave his all. That next day he did not show up to practice, he was gone.
Me, along with my team, were absolutely crushed. One of our teammates, a part of our family, was never coming back. We thought that he would never be a part of our close knit family, because he was taken away from us. But, to our surprise, we were wrong. He touched us all on one special day. Fort Washington Avenue, in New York City, was the home of the Armory Track & Field Center. It was not only home to a track meet, but a moment that touched all who knew Mike Cisternas.
That day, all of the Smithtown West athletes wore a jersey that read Mike's name on the back of it. Mind you, there are at least 50 athletes on the team, which is a large amount. Mike's memory was being honored by many.
Before the meet began, our coach pulled us aside and told us to run hard, but more importantly, to run for Mike. And, let me tell you, we did.
Every single Smithtown West athlete, every single one, set a Personal Best in their respective events that day. Now, if you don't really follow the sport of running, to have a collective group of people on a team achieve their best times in one meet is an extremely impressive feat. Not only did a large group of athletes do it, everyone did. It was an unbelievable sight. Additionally, one group of runners set a school record in a relay.
The day was full of honoring a truly special individual. We all ran for Mike, and he is the reason why each and every one of us ran our best. For that day, he was an angel looking over us. He was an angel at the Armory.
This story is a constant reminder to me to be thankful for those around us. Mike was taken away from us, and we never want to forget how many lives he touched.
Each day contains 86,400 seconds. Remember that it only takes a second or two to say the words "thank you." Use your time wisely, and remember to be thankful.
You have the ability, the difference is how you use that ability.
Be well, and The Purple Otter wishes you a wonderful Thanksgiving.
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