This I Believe

It was a cold morning, like any other, but today was a special day, my first day of preschool. I greeted today like any other day without knowing what was ahead of me. I was nervous as my Dad held my hand the whole time from the walk until we got up to the horrifying steps that led into school. He turned to me and told me that everything was going to be okay, that I didn’t have to worry about being scared because I am a good person and I would have a fun time and learn lots of new things there. He said to be happy; and whenever I felt like I wanted to go home, to think of him being there with me, reassuring me that everything was and would be fine. As we walked up the steps, he gave me a kiss on the forehead and he let go of my hand. I felt really safe when he let go, as if he was still holding onto me.

I have always remembered that day like it was yesterday, because it is the only memory I have of him. He died of cancer shortly after that day. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he lived his life just like he normally would, and that gives me hope that when something is wrong in my life it doesn’t have to completely stop. He didn’t let cancer take over his life, and that has shown me that when there is an obstacle in my life, I can’t let it take over me, and that I should never give up. Not only in his fight through cancer but as he fought in the Vietnam war, he showed his bravery and earned the purple heart. With everything going on in his life he never got the chance to attend college but that still didn’t stop him from being my inspiration.

Before my dad died, life was blissful and I had little to be discontent about. But after his death, I was motivated to get an education rather than weeping over him. My goal was to focus on the future and choose which ever path I wanted to. From that point on I knew that trying my best was always going to be a priority in my education and my life in general.

My dad would always tell me choose the right path according to what I wanted to be. This has guided me through my education because no matter how I proceed with my future, I have to succeed in order to achieve my goals . Knowing that my dad always wanted to go to college but never had the chance makes me try even harder to do well in school, and to succeed in college. One thing I know I will always do when I chase my dreams is to never give up, because that is what he would of wanted ,and that is what I want for myself as well.

Although he is absent from my life, his soul lives on through my memory and in my heart. This man is not my hero just because he is my Dad; he is my hero because he made his life something to smile about and has allowed me to empower his absence. His accomplishments have given me inspiration to follow my dreams. I am strong and positive today because of my dad‘s affect on my dreams. My dad has been my role model and has guided me through his death and other difficult situations, I know that he is proud of me.