29. Tell us about a conversation you’ve had that changed your perspective or was otherwise meaningful to you. (Stanford)
Both my grandfathers passed away before I was born. I never knew them, just of them. I would hear stories about their humility and their willingness to give back. When I was a little boy, I would always dream of getting to know them. I would always try to be like the stories about them. I was adventurous and as a little boy and tried to discover things on my own. I was told that my maternal grandfather had a knack of inventing things, and fixing things on their own. As a young man, he was always interested in taking things apart and putting them back together. He always wanted to be in control and wanted to be sure of everything he knew about. Whereas, my paternal grandfather was a man of logic. He was good at everything that he could put to a logical test. He wasn't very much interested in the idea of the fine arts, except when it came listening to his classical music. He always wanted to come up with some valid explanation for things that couldn't be explained. He always believed that things could be explained, and if it couldn't, we hadn't been able to find the right answer yet.
I remember the day when I asked my parents about my grandfathers. I was so used to being around my uncles and my father's friends, that I never felt a sense of loss of my grandfathers. I didn't think about it much until I saw my friends' grandfathers. I never understood why I didn't see them around, but I never ever managed to ask my parents where they were, because honestly, I never felt the need to. But before arriving at Woodstock, I faced my own questions, and demanded an answer from my parents. I was a stubborn child, and I believed that my parents were keeping me in the dark about this matter, and so, I threw a tantrum and demanded they tell me everything. I thought I was big enough to handle everything they had to tell me.
I was already in the second grade before going to Woodstock - I arrived second semester at my new school - and I felt that I had known enough about death to ask my parents such a controversial question at such a young age. I knew that death was when people are called by God to go to heaven and stay with him. As you can all see, I was a very naive child. But I still believed that I knew enough to face the reality of what death actually is, besides the fact that God has called you to stay with him. It was a sunny day in Hyderabad, and I was just starting to adjust to the summer heat of the Deccan Plateau. My parents were taking me out to buy my first toys and clothes in India. You see, I had just arrived from the States a couple of weeks ago to start getting prepared to study at Woodstock. So, to do my back-to-school shopping, my parents took me to the nicest mall in Hyderabad. They told me that I could choose whatever I wanted because they wanted me to be happy and not lack anything while I was at Woodstock. But now that I think about it, I think they just felt guilty that they were sending me off to boarding school at such an young age.
So, I entered the air-conditioned mall with my hopes up high, and the first place I entered Archies store to buy that huge yellow teddy bear I set my eyes on. I entered the store and I saw a little girl looking at the same toy. There was an old man standing next to her, telling her that she can buy whatever she wants. The girl picked up the bear that I wanted and walked away with it. I turned to my parents and told them that someone had stolen my bear. But, in fact, all she did was take the same thing I wanted, and paid for it. My parents told me that I could buy the same one and I told them I didn't want the same one. We looked around the whole store and tried to find one similar to the bear the girl took. We looked everywhere but nothing was as good. Frustrated, I told my parents that I wanted that old man instead of them as my parents. I didn't know that my words would have such an effect on my mother.
She looked at her husband and broke down in tears. I ran to my mother and hugged her. I told her I was sorry and that I was angry and didn't mean what I said. She told me that it wasn't what I said but the fact that I did have someone like that I never got to meet. We went back home after that incident, emptied handed.
In the car, my mother told me about my two grandfathers and how excited they were to know that there would a boy in the family. Someone they would talk to, someone they could share their hobbies with, and someone they could buy teddy bears for. I didn't understand what was so upsetting and where they were. I asked my mom what had happened to them, and all they she said was that they were looking at me right now. I looked around and saw no one. I didn't want to further that question, I though my mother was going crazy because she felt so bad. But it was me who was acting crazy looking around. It was only later that I realized that she meant my grandfathers were up in heaven looking down at me.
Just recently my parents had mentioned that I had the determination and drive my grandparents. I heard the story of how they came into the city with practically no money and became very successful with hard work. I was told that I have the knack of needing to know everything and about everything that I come into contact with. It makes me a very well-informed and composed person.
This conversation just reminds me of the fact that even though I never knew my grandfathers, it is good to feel that they are still a part of me with my determination and drive.
Number of Words: 1069
Both my grandfathers passed away before I was born. I never knew them, just of them. I would hear stories about their humility and their willingness to give back. When I was a little boy, I would always dream of getting to know them. I would always try to be like the stories about them. I was adventurous and as a little boy and tried to discover things on my own. I was told that my maternal grandfather had a knack of inventing things, and fixing things on their own. As a young man, he was always interested in taking things apart and putting them back together. He always wanted to be in control and wanted to be sure of everything he knew about. Whereas, my paternal grandfather was a man of logic. He was good at everything that he could put to a logical test. He wasn't very much interested in the idea of the fine arts, except when it came listening to his classical music. He always wanted to come up with some valid explanation for things that couldn't be explained. He always believed that things could be explained, and if it couldn't, we hadn't been able to find the right answer yet.
I remember the day when I asked my parents about my grandfathers. I was so used to being around my uncles and my father's friends, that I never felt a sense of loss of my grandfathers. I didn't think about it much until I saw my friends' grandfathers. I never understood why I didn't see them around, but I never ever managed to ask my parents where they were, because honestly, I never felt the need to. But before arriving at Woodstock, I faced my own questions, and demanded an answer from my parents. I was a stubborn child, and I believed that my parents were keeping me in the dark about this matter, and so, I threw a tantrum and demanded they tell me everything. I thought I was big enough to handle everything they had to tell me.
I was already in the second grade before going to Woodstock - I arrived second semester at my new school - and I felt that I had known enough about death to ask my parents such a controversial question at such a young age. I knew that death was when people are called by God to go to heaven and stay with him. As you can all see, I was a very naive child. But I still believed that I knew enough to face the reality of what death actually is, besides the fact that God has called you to stay with him. It was a sunny day in Hyderabad, and I was just starting to adjust to the summer heat of the Deccan Plateau. My parents were taking me out to buy my first toys and clothes in India. You see, I had just arrived from the States a couple of weeks ago to start getting prepared to study at Woodstock. So, to do my back-to-school shopping, my parents took me to the nicest mall in Hyderabad. They told me that I could choose whatever I wanted because they wanted me to be happy and not lack anything while I was at Woodstock. But now that I think about it, I think they just felt guilty that they were sending me off to boarding school at such an young age.
So, I entered the air-conditioned mall with my hopes up high, and the first place I entered Archies store to buy that huge yellow teddy bear I set my eyes on. I entered the store and I saw a little girl looking at the same toy. There was an old man standing next to her, telling her that she can buy whatever she wants. The girl picked up the bear that I wanted and walked away with it. I turned to my parents and told them that someone had stolen my bear. But, in fact, all she did was take the same thing I wanted, and paid for it. My parents told me that I could buy the same one and I told them I didn't want the same one. We looked around the whole store and tried to find one similar to the bear the girl took. We looked everywhere but nothing was as good. Frustrated, I told my parents that I wanted that old man instead of them as my parents. I didn't know that my words would have such an effect on my mother.
She looked at her husband and broke down in tears. I ran to my mother and hugged her. I told her I was sorry and that I was angry and didn't mean what I said. She told me that it wasn't what I said but the fact that I did have someone like that I never got to meet. We went back home after that incident, emptied handed.
In the car, my mother told me about my two grandfathers and how excited they were to know that there would a boy in the family. Someone they would talk to, someone they could share their hobbies with, and someone they could buy teddy bears for. I didn't understand what was so upsetting and where they were. I asked my mom what had happened to them, and all they she said was that they were looking at me right now. I looked around and saw no one. I didn't want to further that question, I though my mother was going crazy because she felt so bad. But it was me who was acting crazy looking around. It was only later that I realized that she meant my grandfathers were up in heaven looking down at me.
Just recently my parents had mentioned that I had the determination and drive my grandparents. I heard the story of how they came into the city with practically no money and became very successful with hard work. I was told that I have the knack of needing to know everything and about everything that I come into contact with. It makes me a very well-informed and composed person.
This conversation just reminds me of the fact that even though I never knew my grandfathers, it is good to feel that they are still a part of me with my determination and drive.
Number of Words: 1069
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