The image above depicts my entire family together. The picture was taken while I was in the Dominican Republic on a holiday; with my family. We are a close family knit family due to the existence of a strong bond amongst our family. The picture portrays all of us in the pool having a good time; one that is shrouded by happiness. The memory is still vivid to the extent that I remember it like it was yesterday. At this time in the pool, the family was preparing to be a game of volleyball. The teams were divided into two; one team comprising of the adults while the other was composed of the children. We were all very competitive people, and both sides wanted to win. As always, the adults took the day and went off to brag about their feat. Later in the day, we challenged the adults to one final match before the vacation was over. We managed to win the match by a single point. This feat was celebrated ecstatically due to the impossibility of the task. To us, it was more like returning a favor after our parents beat us. The win imparted a message that there is no limitation to what one can do if they decide to put their mind to it. Despite the fact that my team was out-skilled and overpowered, we managed to rely on team play and win the game. To this end, this paper delves into the issue of gender. In addition, the paper will look into the aspects that influenced my gender.
In this perspective, many view my family as the greatest influence on my gender. While growing up, I was always surrounded by a large family. The interactions with my family shaped me to be who I am today. Most of my cousins were my age mates and always around the neighborhood. Living in a big family helped me learn the difference between right and wrong through experience. I am of the belief that my family shaped me to be the best I could be, and for the right reasons. Almost every weekend, most of the family members would come over for Sunday dinner. However, during some weekends, we would travel to other relatives’ houses. At times, my parents would go away for business trips. The task of taking care of me would be left to my aunts and uncles. During this time, I would always ask my uncle Franco to teach me how to play Texas Hold’em Poker. Neither I nor my parents understood how to play the game. It was Uncle Franco who taught the entire fine, little tricks of the game including when to bluff and when to risk all. At one time, during a family gathering, we gathered all the men in the family for a game of poker. I managed to beat my Uncle at his own game, and utilizing the tricks that he taught me; I won the designated cash prize. Later on, I taught my brother and father how to play. An important goal inculcated in this endeavor was that anything is achievable if one puts applies enough effort.
Accordingly, my parents made huge sacrifices to ensure that I lived a safe and full life. When I was a young boy, my father noticed that I loved motorcycles. This is based on the fact that I would always want to ride on his bike with him. After seeing this, my dad purchased me a 50cc motocross bike, but little did I know my father spent most of our money on this bike. At the time, my family was struggling with money and could barely afford Christmas presents. However, my dad made one of the biggest sacrifices so I could be happy. Till this day, I still thank my dad because without that moment I would not be able to do one of the one thing I enjoy most; race my dirt bike. This experience showed me what it takes to be a man by making the ultimate sacrifice for one’s children. I learned that you should always think about the well-being of others just as if you would yourself.
My parents continued to make sacrifices for me throughout my young life. An epitome of this sacrifices included instances where my parents paid for my catholic education; so I could learn in a good environment. I started in a catholic elementary school up until eighth grade. In high school, my experiences helped me shape my gender. High school taught me how to make the right decisions. For example, many underclassmen were treated with disrespect or bullied. However, I learnt to help these underclassmen and show them the right path they ought to have taken throughout their high school years. These kinds of events happened occurred more frequently than presumed. However, sometimes talking to an individual can go a long way in changing their life. Through this experience, I was able to make new friends; I still retain a large number of this friends. In the case of sports, high school sports taught me discipline and showed me that quitting is never an option. During my freshman year, I decided to try out for the football team because I enjoyed playing a lot; with my friends. As the weeks passed, I began to realize that I was a good player, but lacked motivation to make the school team. I was expectant of immediate success without any hard work. However, I decided to quit the team as I feared to work hard enough for my position. I learnt an important lesson that hard work is an essential ingredient to success.
After my experience in football, I decided to join a new sport during the next year. My family supported me throughout this process and respected my decisions. My parents would try to guide me towards a decision that would make me happy as they knew what was best for me. During the years that I spent with my family, they constantly commented that I was fast. This made me lean towards returning to track and field. During elementary school, I spent most of my time on the school track team. However, I left the team because I wanted to focus on my grades. After the initial return, my mind was geared towards making the team and attaining the best position. Throughout the entire season, I continued to progress and later achieved my goal by winning a race. I could not have done this without my parents, who supported me throughout the season. At certain junctures, I would be afraid of continuing with the race that is life. However, my father continuously pushed me as he knew my potential. He would always tell me, “If you want something, you control if you get it or not, as long as you’re ready to work for it.” My father’s statement still keeps me motivated to this day. Every time I feel like I cannot go on, I reminisce my father’s words and strive to achieve my best. This experience taught me that you should never be afraid to strive beyond your comfort zone. In addition, my dad’s words inculcate a hunger for success.
Accordingly, my family comprises a group of individuals whom I cannot do without. Their guidance and experience have turned me to be the person I am today. My greatest role models in life are my father and my mother. Throughout my entire life, dad taught me discipline and respect for others. I was wise enough to never talk back to my father especially when I did something wrong; there do not exist an excuse for wrongdoing. My father taught me most of what I know ranging from repairing things to simply learning how to drive. When I was younger, my father, my brother, and I would all spend time together fixing our dirt bikes or maintaining the house. One summer, we built an entire patio in front of my house; beginning on the second floor. My father taught me so many useful ideas that can come in handy, or I could at least impart on my children. I remember an instance when his teachings bore fruit. One day, while driving for home from queens, I notice a car packed by the side of the road. Due to my curiosity, I decided to alight and find out what was happening to which I found a lady with a flat tire. However, I did not ask her to call for a tow truck, but engaged in repairing the car for the lady. This I did based on the experience and knowledge imparted on me by my father. The help my father provided me allowed me to help another. This very experience showed me that is does not take much to make a difference. As such, I vowed to help other people in my life. As of today, I continue to help others by volunteering in any way possible. Throughout this essay, I have discussed how gender is based on my actions, but gender can be defined as who we are. My gender can be described as actions and feelings I show to others and allow them to decide who I really am.
In addition, my mother was amongst the few individuals who were my role models. It was my mother who taught me how to care and love other people. Every time I felt like I was down, my mother was there me. She always repeated to me that no one in this world had a right to make me what or who I was not. After the demise of my grandfather, though young, I was devastated. I always felt that my mother’s love exceeded that which she had for herself. As I grew, my mother was always there comforting me. At times, my mother mother’s would be broken, and she would be weak. However, she managed to keep her strength as my grandfather would have wanted her, and hold on. This showed me how strong my mother was, and taught me that you should always care for others like you would do for yourself.
Many people think of gender as the respective sex of an individual. However, gender is the word that defines who you are. My family defined the person I became today because of their experiences. I learned everything I know from my family, and it showed me that many people judge you based on your actions. Throughout my experiences, I was able to shape myself to become who I am today. Many of family relatives say I look like my mother, but act like my father. At dinner, I would sit next to my dad and as soon as we started eating my mother would take note of the similarity in the manner we sat, ate, and slouched. I love the fact that such close similarity. This is based on the fact that I always wanted to be like my dad when I grew up. I always looked up to my dad as being the “cool” guy in the family; a thing that made me hope to turn out like him. All through my experiences, my family is the main reason I am where I am, and who I’ve become a student, a son, a man.
