I believe, there are moments and
experiences in life that shape us for who we are today. These experiences may
be positive or negative, but it’s the knowledge we take away from these experiences
that is most important. By applying this knowledge and growing from these
situations, it will help to guide a stronger person down an influential life
path. I am able to recall three influential
life experiences that have provided me with insight regarding the path of life I
want to partake in. These situations have given me different outlooks on life and provided me with insight on the path I want to encounter.
The first inspiring life experience involves my younger brother. My brother has essentially provided
insight and inspired me to become a special education teacher. My brother was
diagnosed with autism when he was a young infant. I can remember attending countless
appointments for my bother. Whether it was doctor’s appointments, OT, PT,
speech therapy, or home service visits, I never missed an appointment. Life was
an emotional roller coaster for both my mother and I. Despite all of the despair and difficult times, my life has been positively
impacted by my brother. My brother has given me an understanding of a life with
autism. I want to positively help and impact the lives
of children and families that may have similar disabilities. I also hope
to bring awareness to younger generations about autism and other spectrum
disorders. Awareness and knowledge is essential because many kids are
judgmental towards others who appear or act different. They may resort to bullying because
of a lack of understanding. I can give credit to my brother for helping me find
a path in life dedicated to helping others.
5 years ago |
The next life experience involves a tragic incident. One snowy afternoon, my mom and I were
driving down a crowded city road. There were a few snow flurries moving through
the afternoon air. I was in the passenger seat and my mom was in the driver’s
seat. We were spending the day together. We were driving along a familiar road
that we frequently drove down. My mom was driving slowly because the roads were
slick from the cold wet snow. We were approaching an intersection, the traffic
light was green. On the side of the road, my mother and I saw an elderly women starting
to cross. As my mom began to slow down to let the woman cross, the tan colored
car in front of us sped up. The tan car stuck the woman and kept driving. The woman’s
body hit the tan car’s windshield, rolled over the entire length of the car,
and she landed on the ground in front of us. We began to scream in horror. The woman
wasn’t moving. As my mother got out of the car, she told me to call 911 and to
remain in the car. I couldn’t believe what I had just witnessed, my heart was
racing and it was hard to breath. The paramedics and police showed up with
their lights flashing and sirens blaring. It was an unbelievably chaotic scene.
They carried the women to the ambulance on a stretcher, shut the doors, and
drove away. Every time I drive down that road, I have flash backs of the poor
women being struck and projected into the air by that careless driver. Witnessing
that moment in time, has certainly impacted my life. This situation has showed me
how precious and how fragile life truly is. One moment, you could be going
about your day and the next your life could be taken from you in an instant. From
this experience, I have learned to cherish life and live everyday like it’s the
last. (And of course to look both ways before crossing the street.)
Aggravation and frustration
Can be an overwhelming fixation
Heart racing
Back and forth pacing
Feeling this way, in certain
situations
With little to no explanations
I take a breath and think
How I was pushed to the brink
I wish I could just run away
And put all these feelings at bay
I'd travel to a peaceful paradise to
relax
Never looking back into the past
in the sand
Golden brown and tanned
Listening to the crashing waves
Sitting underneath the warmth of
the sun’s rays
Loosing track of time and the days
Encountering calming meditations
To balance these frustrations
Channeling these feelings
Into powerful healings
Emily,
ReplyDeleteVery powerful post! You have a real talent for story telling. All three of your stories are gripping - the reader (me, in this case) just keeps scanning and reading to see what happens next. Your stories are all very impactful and compelling.
You have excellent writing skills. You pace your stories well, and you provide a great balance of fine details and emotional impact. I felt like I was in that car with you and your mom. The story is that good.
Just be careful of minor errors. In the car story, you kept referring to the single woman who was struck as the "women". Recall - women is plural.
Your hip hop/poem about anger is very good. You have a great flow, especially in the beginning, when you kick the whole thing off. I like the emotional focus you used here, with the heart pounding, the pacing, the breathing. Very real. Very relatable for others to read and experience this with you.
Excellent post. This may be your best one yet. Awesome pictures and professional looking design.
GR: 98
Emily, I just noticed that you posted this 2 days late. I have to deduct points for not being submitted by the end of Sunday.
DeleteGR: 88