What My Life Consist by Jor'Dhyn

What My Life Consist by Jor'Dhyn - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

Growing up I found myself opening the backdoor to see my dad smoking
cigarettes. As a child, I figured it was just something adults did; however I
began to worry when I noticed all the negativity surrounding the idea of
smoking. Since then I had constantly mentioned how dangerous smoking could be
and expressed my disgust for the scent, but every day I would see him slip out
onto the back porch and pull one out. Although me and my dad's approach and
beliefs toward smoking contradicted each other, it later helped me to become
more receptive to new viewpoints that have allowed me to learn and consider the
beliefs of others.
It wasn't until my freshman year in high school when I enrolled in health
education that I discovered how toxic smoking could be to someone's future
health and lifestyle. I would wait for my dad to come home every day and nag
him to quit. I realize now that it probably added onto his stress, but at the
age of 14 all I was concerned about was the harmful effects. Although he told
me that he had already quit in order to appease me, I would occasionally see
cigarette packs falling out of his briefcase. I felt as if my feelings toward
him smoking weren't getting across, which made me feel disappointed and
discouraged. My dad and I began to argue more due to each other's frustration,
but after several months I finally stopped mentioning it. My attempts to help
my dad quit were ineffective, so why would I waste my time and energy just to
cause myself a heartache. Our beliefs toward smoking were so different from
each other, and it made me wonder why he wasn't able to see my side of the
story.
About a year later, I found out my family was having trouble making ends meet
for the last several months. My dad was laid off due to the poor economy and
money was very tight. Being a junior in high school, I had matured quite a bit
since my freshman year. I realized I was very narrow-minded; caught up in my
own thoughts, I didn't even recognize the reasons for my dad smoking. Although
still harmful to his health, smoking a cigarette helped him relieve any stress
he had built up throughout the day. It wasn't an addiction but an outlet for my
dad, a time for him to think about how he would put a roof over my head and
provide food for us on the table. I felt stupid and immature for not
considering my dad's thoughts and feelings during the previous months. However,
as I matured I was able to see his intentions in the past.
I can't expect everyone to share the same beliefs as me. Growing up in
different backgrounds and environments can alter someone's choices. Although I
still believe smoking is detrimental to someone's health and future lifestyle;
I discovered that there is a reason to every situation. The differing beliefs
between my dad and I have changed me to become more open-minded to various
circumstances by acknowledging and recognizing their choices.