Writing Feedback / First time celebrating Christmas - belief or idea challenge [2]

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

I was sitting in my sixth grade classroom, waiting for my turn to tell the whole class what I got for Christmas. So far, everyone's presents were amazing. When it was my turn, I still didn't have an answer yet. Everyone's eyes were staring at me, and I could feel my face getting hot. Finally I said, "I didn't receive anything." Many of the students asked me why. Actually, it was because my parents never celebrate any holidays that Americans celebrate, since they're not originally from America and their culture doesn't celebrate any holidays that we celebrate here. People have asked me what I got for Christmas every year, but I always give them the same answer, which is nothing. That is when I challenged a belief or idea, when I decided to celebrate Christmas in my home. Although some say that there's nothing wrong with being different, I've always believed that being the same is better than being different.

On Christmas, my family never decorate our house, get a Christmas tree, or even exchange presents. With this in mind, my two brothers and I decided to decorate our house with Christmas ornaments and surprise our parents on Christmas morning with presents. I knew I was taking a big risk, since my parents are really religious and they're not Christian. I was both nervous and excited at the same time. I didn't know what their reaction will be, but I was willing to take the risk to find out.

What prompted me to act was the idea of wanting to be the same as others and to blend in with the people around me. Not celebrating the same holidays as others is one aspect that makes me different from them. It conveys that I am not part of them and I am different from everyone else. People have asked me what kinds of presents I've received for Christmas, and even what I ate for Thanksgiving. I didn't know how to answer them, because they would see me differently if I told them that I don't celebrate those holidays.

I personally think that my parents should start celebrating holidays, since everyone else we know celebrates them. It's not hard to try to do something new. We get more knowledge and experience when we do something new, and we only know how we feel about it when we try it for the first time. I would make the same decision again, since this event have taught me to go with my instincts. At the same time, it taught me not to be scared to do what you think is right. Overall, I was proud of what I did. My parents have now changed their aspects of holidays, and I am a step closer to being similar to everyone else around me.

Undergraduate / Moving to another state - my parents sent me to California to live with my grandma and uncle [5]

Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

After third grade, my parents sent me to California to live with my grandma and uncle. I haven't seen them since I was four, so they were like strangers to me. At first, I didn't know why I had to move to California. Moreover, I barely know any of my family members there. It was like leaving everything I have accomplished behind, never looking back at them ever again. I had to adopt to my new environment and start my life all over again. I was really frightened when I found out that I was moving. I was going to lose all of my great friends and the home that I had so much memories of. Worst of all, I never knew what it was going to be like in California. Leaving your parents behind and going to another state to live with someone who you don't know might be intimidating, but you will quickly learn how to adjust to new lifestyles and accomplish new challenges along the way.

Later on, I found out the reason I was sent to california was because I had to take care of my grandma. She was getting too weak and fragile, due to her old age. Not only I had to take care of her, I also had to take care of myself. While living with them, it was my soul responsibility to help around the house as much as I can. The role that I had in the house have given me various challenges along the way, and I have learned countless valuable lesson while going through those challenges. At the beginning, I was always sad and always sitting alone by myself. It took me a long time to get used to everything. When times are hard, I would tell myself that this is how life is and that I would only get stronger after this.

Making new friends is the hardest challenge for me, being the shy person I am. At recess, I would walk sadly around the playground, while watching other kids having the best times of their life. I always assume that everyone have their own group of friends and that no one would need me to be their friend. In fact, I never knew how wrong I was, until someone came up to me and asked if I wanted to play. After that day, I became more social in school, and I made more friends than I realized. This became my most wonderful moment of my life, the feeling of knowing you have a friend there for you and that you are never alone again.

While living with my grandma, I would go with her when she sees her physicians. Watching the physicians doing their job have shaped my dreams and aspirations.