Thousands Miles Away - Personal Statement Example

Zaur Ravinovich 401 Thousands Miles Away There is nothing that could evoke in me the greatest of nostalgic memories than a snow storm. Because, as a boy, I used to cuddle on a Baku rug spread on the cot near the window of my house and watch it take over our ancient city in an icy embrace. I would relish the sight of the white carpet of snow gradually unfolding over the grass and the roads. The lights of the city would start weaving constantly changing designs on them. The ice would slowly cover my window pane and sleep would close my eyelids as well, as if imitating the action. My childhood memories are embedded in wind and snow because I hail from the city of wind, Baku. Baku Azerbaijan, sometimes spelled as Baki, is translated from the native language of Azeri. Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and the the largest city port of the Caucasus region. Located on the Southern shore of the Abseron Peninsula overlooking the Caspian Sea, this city has been host to voyagers from around the world who left their mark on its life and culture. A Herring Gull that flies over this city will see it as a green crescent facing the blue oceanic infinity. During World War II Baku was the main city that Adolph Hitler wanted to target since Baku was the main oil supplier for all of the Soviet army, home to some of the oldest oil fields in the world. The oil-smelling mountain winds would remind this fact to every history-loving new visitor to Baku. This has been the richest city of former Soviet Union, with its vast expanses of oil and gas fields, and the suburbs showcasing white oceans of cotton and large groups of grazing cattle. The famous sturgeon fish that supplies the whole world with black caviar is another asset of this sea port. The current population of Baku is slightly more than three million and about nine million for the whole country of Azerbaijan (US Department of State). Azerbaijan is a former country of the Soviet Union and got its own independence back in 1989. Baku is very special for me since I spent my first 16 years of life there. With that, it brings lots of good memories of childhood and the beginning by early transition into adulthood. I’ve gained numerous life lessons there but the most important that I’ve gained is to always have a dream, a goal, and not to give up and make things happen instead of letting them go, and to always finish what I’ve started no matter if it’s a short term achievement or a long term accomplishment that striking for. Baku brings me good memories from my childhood, memories of my early school age and my classmate friends. But the most memorable of them all was when I started to attend karate classes. Karate is a martial art developed in Japan which teaches a unique way to fight. It changed my life around and made me quite another person- goal oriented and self-confident. Karate taught me life lessons that I apply even today in real life. It was at the age of twelve that my dad took me to join the karate classes. As we entered the building in which the classes were conducted, I could hear the chorus of powerful voices that accompanies the karate kicks, echoing all around. I was dumb-struck to see the grace and power of the body movements of the instructor. He was wearing pure white costume with a black ribbon tied around the lower body part. In one magnificent gesture when he swung his one leg in a big vertical arch and kicked just above the shoulder of the student fighting him, I was surprised at his control and precision. His kick looked very powerful to me but he stopped a second short of hurting his opponent as this was a training session and not a real fight. It was as if he suddenly in one breath, he drew back all his energy that was about to explode into a massive hit. That was amazing, and I became a disciple in a moment. At that time I did not realize that his lessons to me will turn out to be an example of life for my future. My instructor was Geydar Aliev. He was twice a champion of the former Soviet Union, and he not only would teach us the art of karate, but also shared with us his experiences and what helped him become a champion. Geydar Aliev became my role model from the very first day I saw him and ever since I have wanted to become like him. He would always tell us to have a dream and reassured that dreams do come true. My role model taught me not to ever give up on goals that I have set for myself, and to keep trying until I reached them. Another great quality that Ive learned from him is to always finish whatever I have started. He would tell us that these are the qualities that made him a champion. After I attended every session of his class I would deeply think on what he said during the training and would always wonder if this is the key to success. Well, I never became a champion like Geydar, but it wasnt my goal anyway. Time passed and I moved from Baku to Los Angeles at the age of sixteen. Id started to face numerous life difficulties, such as language barrier, and problems of adaptation to a new place and a completely different society. I couldn’t communicate with fellow students because of the language barrier and also because we were from different cultural backgrounds and mentalities. Throughout this shift of my life, Geydar was always whispering behind my ear "Not to give up, keep trying, set a goal and strike for it, it will come." And I would see his self-assured stride keeping his head high in my minds eyes. And I realized whatever he advised was the key for success. Ever since I have become very goal oriented, very optimistic, and struck out for anything I wished for myself without harming others. I also believe that dreams do come true. It will take time and I must be determined in order to see the results. In 2005 when I went back and visited Baku I nearly didnt recognize a place where I spent my first sixteen years of life. Since I left there has been so many alterations being made- new buildings, highways, markets, and it was all so different. But when the vendor on the street greeted me with a “Salaam!” and when the setting sun showed the outline of the Maiden Tower in a golden hue, I felt at home. I felt the essence of this city has remained unchanged. It was a great experience to have a flashback of my early childhood. I stayed there for twenty days and visited all the places that brought me back to my past. I had an unforgettable time with my friends because we had time to catch up and also heartily laugh recollecting the good old days when we used to get into one or other pranks in the school. I also visited the karate school where I used to take classes from Geydar. I walked in during the session and heard him "Today I would like each of you to share your goal with me." While I was walking towards him I had a great smile on my face. The faces of each student, who stood before him in a neat row, seemed familiar to me. I was seeing myself in them- the same admiration and hope that Geydar had evoked and instilled in me. Geydar had a silver streak of gray in his hair which only added up to his grace. He at first didnt recognize me since I had grown up from a twelve year old into an adult. He was very excited to see me and very happy that I still remembered him. I told him that he became my role model and all these years I remembered what he taught me and how I applied his skills outside of karate. I was very happy to find out that Geydar had received an award from the president of Azerbaijan for being an outstanding Instructor. I wrote a letter about Geydar to the Sports Committee of Azerbaijan and had a chance to share my experience and what he changed in my life. It was snowing heavily when I set on my return journey. I saw children playing in the ice and the city of Baku was clad in white just like a Karate warrior. This is truly a special place for me because it taught me a good life lessons that I apply to everyday life today. Its very special and important to me also because this is the city where I was born, the city where I spent my early childhood, the city that taught me life values and ethics. How can you not love a place where you had spent the sweetest time of your life? I cant imagine my life without this place, cant imagine not being part of it. In the voyage of life, this is the shore where I would always want to lower my anchor and load some memories to take back. If I would have another chance to be born and to choose the place of birth, I would choose Baku without any second thoughts. Works Cited US Department of State. US Department of State: Diplomacy in Action, June 17, 2011. Web. 25 August 2011. Read More