Symbols: Final Draft

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.