Eljak Menjwak died doing what boys do

By Ted Cohen/Patch.com

The promising teen who drowned Saturday diving into the New Haven river from Bartlett Falls was invincible.

Aren’t all kids?

They do fun things that take daring, unlike adults who analyze every move they make.

Isn’t that the real beauty of being young? Taking chances? Not obsessing over consequences? Being impetuous?

Of course.

Eighteen-year-old Deng Mutawakel elEljak Menjwak Eljak – the Americanized version is Eljak Menjwak – moved to Burlington from Egypt with his parents and siblings three years ago.

Eljak rode his bike wherever he had to go. He got a job working at Shaw’s. He was conversational even though his English was limited.

He even helped other immigrants learn their new second language.

“He was a very sweet kid,” said Redditor JdotEK. “He taught kids with learning disabilities to play basketball. He wanted to be a pilot.”

Burlington High School principal Sabrina Westdijk released a statement saying “he and his family are dear to many of us. This is a very hard loss for his family, friends, and our school and local community.”

Eljak, who graduated from high school less than two weeks ago, had 11 brothers and sisters. He was very tall and towered over most of them.

He loved stopping to chat with neighbors, young and old alike, on Cherry Lane.

He died loving what he was doing – being a kid.

Impulsively jumping into a Bristol river in his family’s recently adopted home of Vermont on a warm day.

Just for the pure fun of it.

The fun of being a kid for kids’ sake.

Living life without consequence. Being free as a bird.

Just like kids should be.

Kids being kids at Bartlett Falls. (File photo)