“River,” she called in her heavy Filipino accent. “Let’s go to Walmart.”
I got into the car without hesitation because I knew if I went I would get to pick out whatever I wanted. Once we walked into the store, she already started to yell at one of the workers. She didn’t yell at them like they were doing something wrong; she yelled at them in a playful way. What I didn’t mention was that she worked at Walmart, so she knew everyone there.
My Lola grew up in the Philippines. Growing up she was never taught the traditional way to love someone, but she showed love in other ways. Going to Walmart and yelling at people was her way of showing love. Every time she saw someone she knew, a smile appeared on her face instantly. She’d talk about anything she could think of just to get that small interaction that I now realized are my cherished memories of her. After she finished talking to everyone and buying a bunch of stuff we didn’t need, we went home. Once I got home, I showed both of my sisters what my Lola got me, rubbing it in their faces. Surprisingly, they didn’t give me any sort of reaction. They were both old enough to pick up on little things and put things together. But nothing could prepare us for the news we were about to get.
“Your Lola has cancer, but fortunately we caught it early and they can start treating her,” my mom said to my sister and me.
“We just need to move one step at a time,” said my dad, hoping his words would slightly help heal our broken hearts.
She had to go to the hospital often to begin treatment. Once this started, I slowly watched the life and energy drain from her body. She lay in bed tired, trying to put on a happy face to not discourage me. I had to watch a vibrant, colorful women hurt and struggle to hold on everyday. It got to the point where she had to be admitted into the hospital because the doctors wanted to keep a closer eye on her.
She continued to get worse. We knew she was going to leave us soon. We spent her last moments staying by her side and trying to make the most out of the last of our time together. I remember her telling me she will always be with me no matter what. She ended up dying from cancer shortly after.
This put me into a dark place. As a kid I didn’t talk about my feeling, so all of the built up emotions I was feeling about the passing of my Lola turned into anger. I constantly fought with my sisters, and I started not listening to my parents. I pushed my feelings further and further down until I turned into someone I never wanted to be. My attitude was disgusting, and my comments were rude.
Then one day my mom sat with me, and we had a conversation one on one. This is where everything changed. Everything I had held in came right out. That was what I needed. I needed to verbalize the things I was feeling, I needed to know that I wasn’t the only one hurting.
The other day I went into her Walmart for the first time in a long time. I no longer feel dread and despair walking in. I realized my memories of her were only happy ones, so why should I be upset? That isn’t what she would want. When I went into Walmart, I embraced the flood of memories. They reminded me of her crazy antics and her bright smile that filled the room. I knew that, every time I walked into Walmart, she was watching me from above, wishing she could come shop with me.
Reflection
Many of you guys struggle with where to begin when writing your college essay. Some of us struggle with format while others struggle with how to answer to the prompt. In this short little article thing we will be listing some ways to help you with writing your college essay:
First and foremost, let’s talk prompts. Your essay should clearly respond to the prompt in order to qualify as a good essay and you want first place. The essay should obviously be about you. In other words, it’s a personal statement essay, but that’s boring to say. According to Mathew Denvir, “be clear with your answer, but whatever the prompt is… it’s asking you to tell about yourself, set yourself apart, and make it clear that you’re a qualified applicant.” Here, Mr. Denvir is suggesting that your essay should stand out. You don’t want to blend in with the crowd so think of a unique but significant experience to write about.
Your essay might be a little bit uncomfortable to write about because it kind of has to be sappy and corny. Your essay should also “Reveal how you overcame challenges or otherwise became the person you are today,” according to Matthew Denvir. Basically the event you write about also needs to be a life-changing one. Your essay needs to also represent you and what core values you believe in. All you need to do is like talk about how the event like took patience or strength, that type of thing. Finding a unique, different topic that makes you stand out from the crowd is essential to writing a college essay, but it’s only the start of what feels like a never ending road. Having a strong voice while writing can make or break your essay. If you don’t have a strong voice, you’ll sound wimpy and the essay will be a bore. No one wants to read a boring essay after having to read over 50 other mid essays. Try adding your own personality and humor into your writing. You want to grab the reader’s attention, so over exaggerating the details a little will do you justice. Don’t overthink while writing, write with your heart and not your head.
To sum it all up, your college essay should be a good one. Take your time while writing and definitely use these strategies when writing. Be sure to make it one that stands out above the rest. Use a unique experience, make it representative of what you believe in, stay on topic, and have a strong voice that really grabs attention. Good luck on writing that essay! You’ll bring the boom!
