A Setback That Had Impacted Me

It took me eighteen years to realize what an extraordinary influence my grandmother has had on my life. Only after she passed away last year did I realize how much she meant to me. Growing up with such a role model I developed many of her enthusiasms. I not only came to love the excitement of learning simply for the sake of knowing something new, but I also came to understand the idea of giving back to the community in exchange for a new sense of life, love and spirit.

Only a few days back, when I was flipping the pages of my family album and seeing pictures of my grandmother, did I begin to reminisce about the great times I had spending my summer holidays with her. One such memory from my childhood was the time I had enraged her by incessantly irritating her to the point where she could take it no more. She blew her top; I had never seen her that way so I ran and hid behind the door began to cry soon afterwards. She felt so bad for shouting at me, that she ran to my room and began to kiss and hug me and asked for my forgiveness. That memory still brings tears to my eyes to this day.

Frequently, Grandma and I used to volunteer at a low income pre-school in our community. The children who attended were deprived of the most basic things in life, the things that I take for granted. Hungry for love and knowledge, these children loved to be hugged and talked to and they very much looked forward to my weekly visits with cookies and juice. Moreover, they have helped me to understand my obligation to help those less fortunate and to realize how truly blessed I am. When I leave for college, I will miss these children who have taught me unforgettable lessons about love and integrity.

I will probably miss my parents when I leave for college, but I doubt the separation will hurt me deeply since the connection will always be there. With Grandma, I lost the mentor and the best friend I ever had, and I lost that forever. Losing that kind of bond cuts deep, and I know it's the type of wound that doesn't heal. It's the type of wound you just live with.

I know that my grandmother never achieved great fame, but her selflessness and hard work has touched others in more ways than she could ever have known. I share her love for humanity and am proud to have been chosen to be her