Student Essay: The Best Vacation I Ever Had

The Best Vacation I Ever Had

There is a wondrous vision in my mind of my sister and me riding bicycles through a gentle breeze in the dusk of a summer day. In that vision there is an elderly man on an old motorcycle ahead of us leading the way; it is our grandfather whom we see! When the three of us went out riding, grandpa would be there to slow us down or stop to wait for sister and me to catch up. Whether it was in or near his farmhouse or out and around central Taiwan, Grandpa is central to the unforgettable memory of the best summer vacations we ever had.

      It was after I finished fifth grade that my sister and I spent half of our summer vacation in a small town in Chang-Hua County with our grandparents. I was asked by mom to keep an eye on my little sister. It was troublesome for me that summer, a boy with a carefree spirit, but staying at our grandparents’ place turned out to be a summer paradise. All morning long, we worked at the farm around the little farmhouse with Grandpa. Sometimes he would bring us for walks to chat with his neighbor farmers or play with their grandchildren as we chased each other around the ridges between the fields. Grandpa stood witness to our youthful folly as our childhood faded away in his wistful eyes.

      When it was time for lunch after a busy morning, Grandma was there to welcome us home with a tasty lunch she had been preparing all morning long. She was a great cook! Grandpa knew she would be there to reward us as she had fulfilled him for all their years together. After lunch, Grandpa would take his nap, and then the excitement would start all over again, this time in the backyard of the farmhouse. We flew our kites there or played on the swings. Grandpa was the cheerleader in our competitions, but we couldn’t tell whose side he was on! He was almost as excited as we were.

      When there was time, we got on a bus and travelled out into the surrounding vicinity of Central Taiwan. We played hide-and-seek around a temple not too far away. The corridors and marble pillars were the obstacles that my sister liked to hide behind.

She would be satisfied when I pretended not to find her and Grandpa stood by silently smiling from ear to ear. He brought us on excursions to see the pretty flowers inTien-Wei, enjoy oyster omelets at Wong-Gong, or on short hikes in Ba-Gua Mountain. For us it was not only fun, but a chance to learn about Taiwan.

      Grandpa was not weak in those sunny summer days; he was strong and willing to go out with his naughty grandchildren. We knew he enjoyed watching us being ourselves. Grandpa gave us such deep love and the best vacations we ever had. Several months after that summer had gone, while back in school, we learned that Grandpa had become ill. He passed away within the year. The best summer we had ever had became the sweetest memory we would cherish forevermore.

Edited by D.B.T.

Student Essay: How to “Do What You Love and Love What You Do”

How to “Do What You Love and Love What You Do”

      Young adult have to ponder what they want to do with their lives. Few can fulfill their lifestyle expectations and do what they love for their vocation. The truth is that their jobs will become a huge part of their lives; they will suffer if they choose an occupation to please their foggy notions or take work which will only pay their bills. Ray Bradbury said, “Love what you do and do what you love. Don’t listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it.” Here is how we can know if our dreams are practical or stop ourselves before we go too far up a dead end street.

      There are drawbacks to choosing a career we think we like but are not good at. Our passions will wither and soon disappear if we are not frank with ourselves about our abilities. For instance, a shy person who wishes to become an actor will always feel self-conscious when talking in front of others. He had better reconsider his career before it is too late. Similarly, one may think one wants to become a mechanic but have difficulty following instructions and using tools. He should step back and reconsider his dream before he ends up disillusioned and jobless.

      There are some questions we can ask ourselves to determine if our vocational dreams are practical for us and not just obsessions. We have to know if we can stand the heat in the kitchen, literally. For example, if a young adult thinks he wants to become a chef, he must consider the stress of being in a hot busy kitchen day in and day out. Also, he must consider if he can accept diners’ opinions and tastes and not mind changing a recipe that isn’t satisfying. A chef must be able to do this. If he can face the challenges of the profession and sacrifice his personal comfort to pursue his dream, then he can rest assured that being a chef is practical for him and not just an obsession. Once it passes muster, he can go for it!

      Since a vocation will become a huge part of your life, you must find a way to “love what you do and do what you love.” There are considerations for pursuing your dreams or changing course before it is too late to do so. Life is too short to waste time doing a job you don’t love or have a great passion for. Only you alone are responsible for the satisfaction of your life’s vocation. Listen to your heart and do the right thing.

Edited by D.B.T.

Student Essay: The Foreign Country I’d Most like to Visit

The Foreign Country I’d Most like to Visit

      In my imagination, there is a place full of wonderful scenery that fills me with passion. You may know of such a place, too, but if you don’t, it would be my pleasure to share mine with you. The place is the largest country in South America – Brazil. For its succulent rainforests and ecstatic Carnival, Brail is the place I would travel to overseas.

      Brazil’s rainforest is a paradise where exotic plants and creatures can thrive. Just imagine for a minute bathing in the sunlight in a lagoon near where the serpentine Amazon River winds. There, in the Amazon rainforest, you can see the source of tens of thousands of living things in the waters and mangroves. Monkeys with light-brown fur swing on vines and branches between trees to reach for their meals. Perhaps while eating a fruit, it drops a piece where tiny birds swoop to catch it before it falls to the forest floor where creatures scurry to reach the morsel. Animals and birds with shining red, blue, and green feathers leave droppings with seeds in the soil where rain water to washes it along to take root. They grow into trees bearing plentiful fruit of their own. The cycle continues for the next generation of monkeys and birds seeking out meals and dropping new seeds to grow again. The cycle of life goes on amazingly. Doesn’t this sound like a paradise to you? Surely it does to me, and I would love to witness it with my own eye, in beautiful Brazil. 

       Besides the Brazilian rainforest’s celebration of life and renewal, there is a yearly event that nurtures the people; Carnival. Carnival is a five-day street party that happens in February or March. It is known for its freewheeling passion and a dance called the Samba. When Carnival comes, no matter if you are a practiced dancer or a common person; if you have the feel to move your body, clumsy or not, you can be a star. Leave the real world behind, put on your favorite attire, dashing and daring, and dance to the music freely and cheerfully in the Carnival parade. Dance without social burdens, without cares, and without worries. This freedom and cheerfulness that allows people to be themselves is why I love the Carnival. For a moment in time, abandon the heavy homework, the pressures of school rankings, or the uncertainty of the future. I like to feel free, even if just for a while, and ease my tense and tiring life. Then, after having tasted freedom, I can remember how to cherish and value being alive.

      With a love for nature and freedom, I couldn’t think of a better place to go than to Brazil, the country that I would most like to visit. I am a junior high school student for now, without money to visit Brazil, but I promise myself, one day, I will slowly walk through Brazil’s rainforest and become the greatest dancer in Carnival. You may even see me on TV then, but I won’t care; I’ll be tripping the light fantastic. 

Edited by D.B.T.