Choose an important person that you have looked up to and who has helped you in your life - Essay Example

Natalie Rochelle Townsend ID Number: JVS-11-2E193 of Teacher May, My Grandfather: The Most Important and Influential Person in My Life As each day passes by, I try, in the very best of my abilities, to lead an honest and meaningful life. Because life, as we all know it, is full of stumbling blocks; a roller coaster ride that has ups and lows. And it was “Paw” who taught me to understand, appreciate, and embrace everything what life has to offer. Paw always thought of things, situations, and ideas as half full, never half-empty.

He was an optimist who made things easy, even if it was so difficult. When I was small, I almost gave up on learning how to ride a bike. Paw made it look so easy to ride a bike that it made want to try and try again, no matter how many bruises or out balancing acts I made. Through this, he taught me how to persevere and work hard, no matter how difficult it would be. When I was having trouble in school, Paw was the one to defend me from some bullies. But at home, he taught me that fighting is not always the best solution to a problem.

The act of goodwill and the power to always stay positive are only a few of the important virtues that make a person strong and must bear in mind when faced with adversities. And because of him, I managed to befriend the bullies who once made fun of me. Most of the time, Paw would tell jokes all day long. As I reminisce over his silly jokes, I never really got tired of hearing them, no matter how funny or how corny it would seem. To me, it was not the joke that made me want his company, it was his eagerness to have a great time with me that always mattered.

He always made sure that I was having a blast, from a silly board game or even to a melted ice cream we were eating. But, not all things turn out the way it should have been. Just as I was trying to surpass the stress that high school life had to offer, Paw was diagnosed with lung cancer, having only a few months to live. I tried to deny the fact that he was sick, because frankly he didn’t really look so sick. He was still the same happy and optimistic family man I always remembered. He was never bothered with pain for as long as I could remember.

As the months turned to weeks, and the weeks turned to days, Paw’s condition worsened. He stayed in the hospital for most of the time. Until one day, he asked his family that he just wanted to go home. Struck and dumbfounded, we all just obliged to his wishes. We gave him everything he asked for, just to see him happy until his final breath. As bad as I hated to say goodbyes, I slowly opened the door and found him immediately looking up at me. When tears uncontrollably swelled from my eyes, he said “No need to cry little girl, I taught you to be strong.

” I replied, “I’ll be strong for you Paw, just for you.” The next thing that happened seemed to pass like a blur. All I could remember was I kept on crying while Paw kept on smiling, like it was the happiest day of his life – he was having a blast. The following day, he passed away. When I look back during the time when Grandpa and I would spend time together, I realized that Paw did not live in vain. He died living a life full of happiness while being able to pass on that happiness to me.

Grandpa’s perspective in life became my very own perspective; and with this, I continue to live on Paw’s legacy.