Akbar
Zamin
Mr.
McElveen
English
II
28
August 2013
Symbols
Certain experiences and education shape
the development of every person – morally, intellectually, and physically.
These different traits result in a personality unique to the individual to whom
they belong. There are some influences that affected me as well; these stand
out as landmarks in the development of my being.
Toys have a strong reputation and presence
in the life of children; a wide variety of cars, dolls, and blocks keep the
young population occupied and satisfied. Stuffed animals have always taken up a
significant portion of the toy market. Their soft, friendly appearance must
look comforting in the eyes of parents. As a child, I was very fond of these
toys and saw them as a flexible version of Legos. Even though my plush animals
were simply a shadow of my Lego collection, I still valued their existence as
toys. I spent a number of days playing with the animals, creating my own scenes
and feeding my imagination.
Looking back, I can now easily relate my
shy personality to one of my favorite stuffed animals, the turtle. Socializing
with other students was a difficult process; only a handful of words came to my
attention after searching the boundaries of my mind. For a while, my head was in
the shell, protected from the fear of humiliation and isolation. However, as I
continued to force out phrases, I became familiar with people and words came
easily to my lips – I had managed to poke my head out of the shell. Since then,
my timidity has, for the most part, diminished, and is only slightly reflected
in my personality today.
During my transition from a young child
to a boy, technology was a growing focus amongst the community. Commercials
enthusiastically advertised the arrival of the newest, most advanced device
around. My fellow classmates armed themselves with the latest gadgets and
boasted of their function. They soon had become engulfed in the internet world,
exploring the vast space of social media and search engines. I felt abandoned
in the ages of physical play, waiting impatiently to find a bridge into
technology. When I was ten years old my parents gave me an LG Vu, a dinosaur of
a phone. It was a device far past its prime that operated at the bare minimum.
It was nothing special, not a smartphone, not a futuristic gizmo that I could
“show-and-tell,” but it was a phone nonetheless. As it turned out, it was the
bridge I was looking for. Technology had piqued my interest and gave birth to a
new curiosity.
Before I knew it, I had fully adapted to
technology: physical play became virtual play – writing on paper became typing
on a keyboard – talking face to face became talking to a monitor. Cars and
vehicles offered new accessories that guaranteed a more luxurious commute. Even
schools began incorporating more technology into its various activities and
lessons. The entire world around me had become captivated by technology, bound
by a multitude of functions and the simplicity that accompanied it. The
dinosaur of a phone had pioneered my passion for science and technology.
Unlike the small, mysterious electronic
box which allowed nearly telepathic communication, school never appealed to me
as a child. Countless hours of work with no visible outcome convinced me it was
just a chore. Homework’s sole purpose was to consume hours upon hours of my
personal time. I was losing interest and my grades were paying the price.
However, in seventh grade, upon receiving a new backpack, I decided to concentrate
on my future. Homework was no longer for
my parents or teachers, but for myself; I understood that my actions at school
affected my entire life as a whole. My focus had drastically shifted from play
to work. I soon realized that education was going to drive my pursuit to a
happy, successful life.
From that time onwards, my backpack has
been filled to the brim with binders, books, and notepads. I still remember
struggling to heave my bag onto my back, aching to slip underneath the straps.
In high school, the physical weight was slightly lifted, but the weight of my
future became heavier. Classes and teachers emphasized the importance of a hard
work and diligence. My backpack represents the moment of my educational
epiphany and newly developed attitude towards school. Within a matter of weeks,
education became a priority in my life and a new sense of ambition was forever
engraved into my personality.
These three traits are clearly visible
in my personality and reflected in my behavior. The plush turtle, old phone,
and backpack were all accompanied by stories that, in some way, affected my
life. Even today, the effects of those stories can be seen in my communication
skills, interest in technology, and concern for education.
