“You’re gonna shoot your eye out!” My mom spoke this famous quote to me after I received my very first BB gun as a gift for my tenth birthday. I distinctly remember opening the gift wrap slowly, eager with anticipation. The room was hushed, and the only sound that could be heard were the soft crackles of birthday wrap being carefully teared away. My parents and the few friends that I had invited stared intently at my face trying to discern the little amount of emotion I was showing. On the inside I was giddy with excitement thinking about the infinite number of things I could shoot, however I knew that I had to remain calm or my mom wouldn’t be convinced that I was mature enough to have it. As I continued to open gifts all I could do was think about BB gun and the good memories I would be making with it. After the party, my dad pulled me aside while my mom begun to clean up remnants of paper cups and plates that had been left behind. “Make sure to use good judgment when using the gun, and never do something that you will regret with it”. I nodded along while he was talking unsure of what meant. The next morning I woke up early so that I could have fun with my new toy, however my mood was slightly tainted, because remnants of the conversation I had with my father still lingered within the back of my mind. After eating a quick breakfast, I went to retrieve my gun from where I had carefully placed it in the basement last night. Then, I proceeded to my patio with gun it tote and an optimistic attitude that it was going to be a good day. To put it in perspective, my backyard is shaped like a semicircle with a garden to the left that contains various trees and plants, grass and pine trees in the middle, and woods to the right. At first, I set up cans about two-hundred feet away, in the area of the pine trees to practice and gauge my ability. As I began to get better I got the “brilliant” idea that I should start trying to hit moving targets. Without any luck I tried to hit birds, and as soon as I was about to give up I saw the perfect target; a white rabbit about the size of a small dog was sitting half hidden under the brush eating plants.As I took aim through the scope, adrenaline rushed through my body with the thrill of anticipation, and in effect heightened my senses. Suddenly, I noticed the heat of midday beating down on the back of my neck. I slowed down my breathing, inhaling then exhaling every two seconds. As the smell of pine trees and lavender flowers entered my nostrils I began to load the gun and faintly heard the click of the hammer being held back within the gun. The rabbit sat tensely within the grove of trees flexing its hind muscles as if ready to dart at the first sign of danger, and through the scope I saw its beady brown eyes flickering about the trees. I pulled the trigger, and a resounding boom rang through the air making the whole backyard go to a standstill.  After the shot, I ran inside to my dad to boast about my shot.  I assumed he would be proud, however he just said “Now that you are man enough to kill it, be man enough to pick it up and bury it.” Suddenly the realization of the actions I took finally hit me and I started sobbing pleading him not to make me go back outside. For the next view days I was distraught with memories of the event. I learned from this situation the preciousness of life and how easily it can be taken away. This event also helped me to mature and become more aware of the power I had and how to be responsible with it.