Brannen Batulan
10-24-10
Personal Statement
During a time in my life that should have been filled with children playing with their neighborhood friends after school, I was taking care of my ill father. When I was eight years old, my father suffered from a massive brain stroke after coming home from a family party. At a young age, I emotionally grew up faster than other children; I quickly needed to learn how to be more responsible and helpful to my family. I was certainly unprepared for this crisis, but I had to cope with the fact that my father would not be able to walk again and that things would never be the same. Nevertheless, I took my father's illness as God's test to perceive how strong of a person I am.
From the moment I was told that my father might not make it, I became very worried and anxious. Hypertension runs through my father's side of the family, and my father had already been alert of his health; that night of unhealthful eating sparked his stroke. Initially, I was unaware of the severity of the stroke; but when I was brought to the hospital to see my dad with all kinds of tubes connected to his body, and my mom standing, weeping next to him, I realized how bad my father's illness was. Before, it was he who nurtured his children; now it is the other way around.
When my father began to recover and was transferred to a nursing home, our family relocated to an apartment near this nursing home so we could see him often. Every day after school, my brother and I walked to the nursing home to visit him. It was hard for me at first because as a child, all I wanted to do was play with my cousins. However, as time passed, I learned that being with my father was much more important than running around with other kids. My father became my top priority. Just the presence of me and my family brought joy to him. We spent hours interacting with him, hoping that it would help him regain his impaired memory and speech. My family and I had a whole new different lifestyle, but it was for the well-being of my father.
I am very fortunate to have my father with me today. I know there are many people out there who lose their fathers due to what my father suffered. I have had many experiences during his recovery that others would not have. He may not be able to walk, but I still get to see him every day. When I begin to give up on things, I think of my father as my motivation. He is my inspiration to endure and persevere, and my reason to appreciate life. I do not take my father's illness as something that has been taken away from me, but as a blessing; a blessing that has taught me to see life at a deeper perspective.
10-24-10
Personal Statement
During a time in my life that should have been filled with children playing with their neighborhood friends after school, I was taking care of my ill father. When I was eight years old, my father suffered from a massive brain stroke after coming home from a family party. At a young age, I emotionally grew up faster than other children; I quickly needed to learn how to be more responsible and helpful to my family. I was certainly unprepared for this crisis, but I had to cope with the fact that my father would not be able to walk again and that things would never be the same. Nevertheless, I took my father's illness as God's test to perceive how strong of a person I am.
From the moment I was told that my father might not make it, I became very worried and anxious. Hypertension runs through my father's side of the family, and my father had already been alert of his health; that night of unhealthful eating sparked his stroke. Initially, I was unaware of the severity of the stroke; but when I was brought to the hospital to see my dad with all kinds of tubes connected to his body, and my mom standing, weeping next to him, I realized how bad my father's illness was. Before, it was he who nurtured his children; now it is the other way around.
When my father began to recover and was transferred to a nursing home, our family relocated to an apartment near this nursing home so we could see him often. Every day after school, my brother and I walked to the nursing home to visit him. It was hard for me at first because as a child, all I wanted to do was play with my cousins. However, as time passed, I learned that being with my father was much more important than running around with other kids. My father became my top priority. Just the presence of me and my family brought joy to him. We spent hours interacting with him, hoping that it would help him regain his impaired memory and speech. My family and I had a whole new different lifestyle, but it was for the well-being of my father.
I am very fortunate to have my father with me today. I know there are many people out there who lose their fathers due to what my father suffered. I have had many experiences during his recovery that others would not have. He may not be able to walk, but I still get to see him every day. When I begin to give up on things, I think of my father as my motivation. He is my inspiration to endure and persevere, and my reason to appreciate life. I do not take my father's illness as something that has been taken away from me, but as a blessing; a blessing that has taught me to see life at a deeper perspective.
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