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.
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.
