The time I almost died, and gave me an amazing insight into who I am as a person.

My senior year of highschool I took a trip with my family to hawaii to celebrate. We had been snorkeling in a little bay when my mom decided to rest by the edge of a concrete wall, chipped and broken on both sides. I was next to her holding the rope which we could use to exit, when a sudden current began pulling water around the side of the wall, just where my mom was resting. She was dragged, too fast for me to grab her, around the side into a small whirlpool that formed. My sister was standing on the wall and watched her dissapear underwater, and I immediately dove after her hoping I could grab her.

The water was incredibly strong, unimaginably fast. It ripped my goggles away and threw me under. I was flailing, but all I could think was to find my mom. A spot of luck, and maybe something else but I did. I grabbed her and pushed, as best you can underwater in a swirling vortex. She found her way out, as the water was pulled out with the current. I wasn't so fortunate though, and the next rush pulled me back under.

I was grasping, kicking and trying to stay afloat. The whirlpool was not so easy to break though, and I slammed against rocks, unable to surface for even a second. My eyes were open at this point, though there was little to see but bubbles all around me. N9thing to hear but a rushing and pounding in my ears. I thought, "This is how I'm going to die" . Caught under a force of water too heavy to lift.

I was never so lucky than that day. The next pull of water out of the pool carried me with it. I had run out of air, my lungs hurt, burned, and my chest was heavy. The surface broke though, and I pulled in such a breathe of air that has never felt fresher, nor since. I swam to the rope again, careful not to touch the sides of the wall. My mom had made it out safely, pulled by my sister and a nearby swimmer.

Sorry for mispellings, done on mobile, and thanks for the opportunity OP.