Questo è un testo che mia nipote ha scritto qualche tempo fa per l'iscrizione ad un college americano... è in Inglese perchè i miei nipoti sono canadesi-americani-somali e la loro lingua è l'Inglese. Mi sono commossa nel leggerlo ma, allo stesso tempo, mi sono sentita così orgogliosa della mia nipotina!!
MY PERSONAL HERO
For as long as I can remember,
traveling has been a love of mine. Traveling gives you a firsthand
look into other people’s lives compared to your life, whether it’s
drastically different or not. I am fortunate enough to have family
around the world, and one individual who has made a significant
impact on me lives just across the pond. Though I only see my aunt
every few years, the lessons I’ve learned from her and advice I
have gotten have made me a more open, empathetic person.
Aunt Rahma has
an unconventional lifestyle and an amazing life story. Born in
Somalia, she moved to Italy as a young child and has lived there
since. As the only girl of color where she lived, she endured
prejudice throughout her life, but she always kept her chin up
through it. Unfortunately, my aunt endured another type of prejudice
as well, and that came from the blue crutches that helped her walk.
Though childhood illness took away her legs, it did not take away her
spirit. As a child, I never saw my aunt any different, though people
may have. However, that didn’t mean I was completely free of
ignorance. I remember an instance where I told her running isn’t
any fun, and she wouldn’t want to do it. Even though the
conversation over running lasted only a minute and was many years
ago, this has always stuck with me. She wasn’t offended, as I was a
child, but I was upset that I would even say something of the sort.
Analyzing this
memory did help me understand one principle – empathy. The ability
to put yourself into another’s shoes is a paramount aspect in life.
If you cannot empathize with someone, you are not able to truly have
a good relationship with that person. To empathize with someone is to
withhold judgment. Judging others is what I would consider the
world’s pastime. If more individuals understood the concept of
empathy, judging others wouldn’t be as prevalent. Moreover, people
get flustered when they are approached by someone different than
them, but empathy can change that. Empathy, listening, and creating a
genuine connection with someone are all paramount aspects to becoming
a better person.
Not many people know how strong people
with disabilities are. In fact, I would say they are stronger
mentally. My aunt never let bigots bring her down, whether they
judged her for her skin color or for her crutches. She was composed,
and in the end, she achieved more than what any prejudiced person
has. Whether it’s everyday chores like driving or athletics like
swimming, my aunt can do it just as well as anyone else. My goal is
to have at least half of the strength she has and try to emulate it
in my everyday life. The lessons I have received are some of the most
valuable items of knowledge I have received, and I believe I have
obtained a certain “savoir-faire” when conversing with others.
Diversity is not something that people should be afraid, and we
should embrace it. Lessons in empathy are the pathway to maturity,
and I believe my aunt provided me the greatest gift by aiding me on
my journey.
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