Obedient Essay Samples

In working on this project I am having the hard time of approaching my parents to ask the questions that are required for the lesson. The Japanese culture is not one that is showing so much emotion among husbands and wives or children and parents. Instead, there is a very strong sense of focus and value for obedience that I have learned in growing up. After asking my parents the list of questions, there are many parts of myself and my emotion that I am now feeling more understanding of. It is from the dialogue with my family that I can tell you about how I have come to be so obedient to authority, but this was not always a way that was common for me.
As a baby my parents said to me that I would cry very much until somebody would come to pick me up and check on what the problem way. I believe this way the first sign that I showed my bad temper and impatience. For example, from birth through my younger childhood years between ages of 5-7 I was known for my very bad temper for not getting what I wanted right away. I was not a child with any patience and was often scolded for the way that I behaved. My parents told me that it was difficult at times to go places without getting a lot of people looking at us because I would become so grumpy and mad if things did not go exactly the way I wanted. It is hard to believe that the person that I am today would have ever behaved in such an out of control manner.
An example that my parents gave me was of a time when I was 4 years old and they took me to a shop with toys to surprise me and let me choose one. Rather than behaving like a happy excited child who was getting to purchase a new toy I was a very rude and destructive child on that day. After not finding anything to be of my liking I began to throw the items to the ground as the shop keeper looked on in horror and my parents stood speechless in embarrassment. It was that event that I think changed the way that my parents and family began to handle me differently. All along the first four years they did their best to ignore it and blame it on me having the temper of my great grandfather. However, after that day at the shop where my parents had to pay and apologize for the mess that I made they were horribly angry and no longer willing to tolerate this behavior of mine.
Although I am sure that many tantrums happened after that scene at the shop, I can recall that my parent’s patience with me had been lost. Instead of running to my side when I began enraged over the silly things that would make me mad, they would have me sit alone with nothing to do in my bedroom and warned me of a spanking. At first they had much difficulty in responding this way because they felt they were breaking my heart, which made them very sad. However, they knew that this behavior must be put to an end as I was getting ready for school soon. No longer did they ever reward me or give attention in my direction when I misbehaved with anger; instead I found myself alone and bored.
It was the period of my schooling years that I can recall I was never the angry classmate having any type of outburst. Actually, my parents were receiving very good comments about what an obedient child I am in class and how much the teachers would love to have me as their student. I remember my parents always being so proud when I came home with any messages from my school or teacher. It seems that instead of allowing my anger to come out I did focus on listening to what was happening in front of me because that brought forth much more desirable responses from the adults around me. There was so much positive reinforcement from everyone when I tried to listen rather than scream or yell about something. I do not think I realized anything special about this change in my behavior other than it magically worked better than my old system of expressing so much upset.
As the years went by and I grew up my parents keep telling me that I really was such an easy one that was always willing to do as told. They laughed and wondered if their child had been switched by another child. I recall always having such a peaceful and easy time when discussing anything with teacher, my parents, or any adults and friends of my own age because I was always obedient to whatever the plan was and whatever anyone was requesting of me. Most people have said that it is very easy to have me in their group because I never cause trouble. My family is extremely proud of me because of the achievements I had in all my years as a very obedient student. Perhaps that is one reason I was able to pursue the education I am currently a part of, because they trust me and my obedient nature.
It was interesting to conduct this interview with my parents because I had forgotten all about being such an angry young child. What I can see now is that the negative behavior was not reinforced by my parents and so I chose to change my behavior as to please them. This new behavior was one of extreme obedience to authority and anyone else. I believe this characteristic has worked well for me in my life, but there are a couple things that make my obedience a negative trait to have. Many times I feel that I am being taken advantage of by friends or peers because they know I will always say yes because it is built into my nature. I do not like how it makes me feel like less of a person when often times I am going against my own wishes just to oblige to the needs or requests of others. I have had trouble arise in things like my tests or assignments when I felt that I had to be obedient and support a friend when instead I should have been studying for a test.
The concluding thoughts that I have on my interview was that it was a nice way to share memories with my parents and remind myself that I once was very different. Looking at these two dominant characteristics I have displayed in my lifetime makes me think that it is time to learn some balance in my level of obedience if it harms me. Instead of always saying yes, I am rightful and should be able to say no sometimes and not agree with others without throwing a tantrum or giving up my will by being too obedient.