Assignment 19- Taetum Crawford

"Be kind and courageous"- Cinderella Live action movie

As a minor, many have tried to impart their so called "wisdom" on me. I ignored most of it. Not just because I didn't care to listen (though that was half of it) but because much of it was truly uninspiring advice. "Don't drink", "Don't smoke", "Don't hurt yourself"; well no duh. most of the advice bestowed upon me left that thought in my head. Duh, of course I'm not going to ruin my brain and liver by guzzling a burning liquor that doesn't even taste decent according to my sources. Duh, of course I'm not going to smoke. I have asthma and play sports, my lungs need all the help they can get. that last one i tend to fail at, but that's because I'm a klutz, not just because I'm stubborn. I tend to ignore common sense advice because I already planned on following it because it's logical.

Be kinda and courageous. I didn't just steal that from Disney; my parents and family never really said it, but they taught it to me through their actions. I remember riding with my Pawpaw one day when we suddenly veered across traffic and to the side of the road. confused I shook off my daydream and took in my surroundings. My Pawpaw had just pulled over to see if he could help a man stuck on the side of interstate, and he apparently was the first one to have stopped in the hour and a half the man had been there. As my Dad's father was talking to the man, i looked to my mimi and saw the love in her eyes as she told me what I already knew, my Pawpaw was a kind man.

My Dad stands by his morals, no matter what. he has stared down corporate heads and battled corruption among them his whole career. He as had his emails, and phones tapped; he has been ostracized by his co workers and bosses who claimed he was only trying to make a name for himself. Through it all he never backed down from what he knew was right. He never came home and took his anger out on me, despite how much of a headache i prove to be. He has had people he thought of as friends betray him because he would not condone their unethical practices. My Dad is courageous.

I don't see my mom as much as i would like, because most days she is in an ER saving people's lives. She has been assaulted several times. Bruises, broken ribs, concussions. but she keeps going back. Almost everyday she saves someones life; she sacrifices her time with family, her assurance of complete safety, all to help people who often times are trying to throw that very same life away. Even before then she kept me, despite threats from my biological father. she kept me despite the risk of losing all of her scholarships. She put herself through college, fought through a brain tumor that still affects her life today, all while caring for and raising a daughter and caring for a hurting mother, and dealing with the looks and judgement she received because of me. My mother is kind and courageous.

I could tell countless stories, though these people are not perfect, they always maintain; always be kind to someone no mater how they've treated you, help where you can help- always give a hand up when you can, and no matter what, always have the courage to do the right thing. It's not always easy, it honestly rarely is, but you will live a better life for it.