The Air in Your Lungs by Josie

The Air in Your Lungs by Josie - November 2018 Scholarship Essay

My great grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when I was about eight years old. She moved into a nursing home when her self care was too much to handle on her own. The nursing home had a code for admittance, smelled of stale air, and was filled with elderly people who were assisted with eating and bathing. My grandmother had a dark room in the back, with only a few rays of sunlight shining through during the day, yet she always greeted us with a smile and a bucket of sweet and crunchy kettle corn.
Some days were hard; she would cry learning the news of her parents deaths, which occurred decades prior, like it was the first time she had been told. Despite the hard times, she reminded us that no matter what life throws at you, you can always find joy in something. She found joy in the sight of my purple rain boots, the sound of my sloppy take of “Hot Cross Buns” on the piano, my fathers sarcasm, and my grandmother’s touch. She liked to go on walks around the nursing home. They were not very exciting, but she looked so alive and free. The same yellow tulips that we had passed twice brought a smile to her face each time, and she laughed at the chipmunk carrying its newest findings to the trees surrounding the property. Sometimes, she would stop, close her eyes, and breathe in the fresh air, squeezing my hand and smiling. My great grandmother always taught me to appreciate the little things.
In the spring of my freshman year, my vocal jazz ensemble competed in the annual Berklee school of music jazz competition; this consists of jazz groups from across the nation gathered in Boston to perform. We put everything we had into the performance, but did not end up placing, which was initially very upsetting. After hours upon hours of hard work preparing, we did not make it. However, after remembering what my great grandmother taught me, I felt thankful that I had the opportunity to come to Boston and perform alongside jazz groups who were well known throughout the nation. I was lucky enough to sing with others who shared in my love for music and perform a set that impacted our audience. Because of this mindset, we continued our hard work, and the next year we placed third, followed by a first place title last year. Remaining positive and appreciating more than the results allowed for us to continue to improve.
My junior year, my soccer team got a taste of victory and of the disappointment of defeat. We spent hours and hours out on the field, experiencing the blood, sweat, tears, and the sacrifice necessary to prove ourselves to those who doubted us. We won an upset and landed ourselves in a semi-final game, but during the game we fell short and lost. This was the closest that we had ever gotten to bringing a trophy home, and losing this opportunity was a let down for all of us. We left in tears, but after some reflection my feelings changed. Thinking about the circumstances that others such as my great grandmother have to deal with everyday, I simply felt thankful that I was able to play the game that I love, with a team that I love, and that we got as far as we did. Having a positive view of the season allowed for me to be a motivational and positive captain during my senior season.
Though I did not know my great grandmother for long, the lesson that she taught me through the way that she lived hers has stuck with me and allowed me to appreciate the opportunities and experiences that I have in mine, even if it’s something as small as the feeling of fresh air in my lungs.