How My Grandmother Kona Changed My Life

Right when I walked through the door, I got a burst of happiness. I felt safe, warm, and loved. The house smelled just like a fresh batch of moist, delicious brownies right out of the oven. There wasn't a single time I walked through the door and felt disappointed or sad. This feeling is just one of the many reasons my grandma had a huge impact on my life.

When asked about an impactful person in my life, my mother always comes to mind. It’s not at all surprising to hear that the person who raised me helped determine my life, but sometimes it’s rather

My great-grandma, Jeanette, babysat my siblings and me until we were around the age of four. She worked as a midwife. As a midwife she was on constantly on call in case anyone went into labor in the middle of the night. We moved out of the house from my grandfather until he had a wagon accident where he broke both his ribs and his arms and came back to stay with us, until he passed away at the age of eighty-one.

My mom has made a huge impact on my life, yet she may never know it. My mom does so much for me and my brothers that she usually doesn’t take time for herself. That impacts me a lot because it shows me what a hard-working woman looks like. She

My grandparents raised me when I was young because my parents were busy toiling away at work to support my siblings and I. Through my grandparents, I learned strength. My grandfather, a former political activist and soldier in Vietnam, suffered a gigantic loss: Losing the Vietnam war. Still, he refused to kneel under the hand of oppression. He restarted his life in a brand new, foreign country with seven children,

While, my mother has also been a significant individual in my life, my grandmother has always been my confidant, someone I could go to whenever I was confused or needed guidance, and she always had the answers. Whether it was putting alcohol on a scrapped knee or lending a shoulder to cry on, I could count on her to be there during my most precious moments. The tough love has also

Throughout my life there have been few people that have made an impact in my life, but the one that has made the greatest influence in me is my older and only sister, Diana Cienfuegos. Although we often argue, I know I was very fortunate to have someone who guided me through the right path in life. My sister has been my role model as a student, given me strength when I need it, and helped me in whatever she could to make me happy.

Most people have impacted my life, but one person particularly has impacted my life greatly. My granddad was the person that has impacted my life ever since I was born. Even though my grandpa has been dead for 10 years going on 11 he still impacts my life daily. Since we had a close relationship I always knew when he is around even though he is gone. He would have inspired me in ways that most people never didn’t. I miss him plenty, but luckily his spirit is still with us no matter what happens.

I lived with my grandmother for the first half of my life. She practically raised me. Everyone in our village would talk about how much she spoiled me. She would go out of her way to get what I needed. One day I was playing with my friends, there was food in the house but I just wanted to eat snacks. I complained and whined about it until I got what I wanted she made my uncle go all the way into the city to buy me some snacks even though I could’ve just eaten what was in the house. She was a part of me. We had so much in common. My mom wasn't unable to raise me because she was living in America.

My mother has a substantial impact on my life which shaped me into the college-ready young man I am today. When I was just a sophomore in high school she got arrested and removed out of my life in a flash. My two sisters and I did not know what to do. We had no father figure in our life, so, our grandparents came in and took us under their wing. Not knowing what to do, I was panicking asking myself questions like what am I going to do now and where am I going to attend school. These were really tough decisions knowing that I do not have a say in what happens. Having to leave all my close childhood friends, along with all the memories I had made in my hometown, it was a very dramatic sequence of events.

We all have someone that we attached to at a young age. Whether it be a relative, family friend or role model. My person was my grandfather. He was one of the most kind hearted people you could ever meet; he was also one of the funniest. I can be having a terrible day and think about something he said or did and I can’t help but smile to myself. Pawpaw was my mother’s father and my grandmother’s husband. They were the “All-American” family. They lived in suburbia, Granny didn’t have to work and they lived life comfortably. My father wasn’t so fortunate in his youth. He had an extremely dysfunctional family and childhood. No one ever saw my mom and dads marriage working out but somehow they defied the odds and are still happily

The number one person who has had a great impact on my life is my late grandmother Pinkie Mae Howard. She raised me from a little baby boy to the great young man I am today. She raised me the best she could. She always told me to give whatever I do my best and shoot for the top. Every morning she would wake me up for school and have me some breakfast ready. She would always tell me to behave and don’t get into trouble at school. I would leave for school as soon as I get there I would get in trouble and they would call her. When I would make it home from school she would tell me “now didn’t I tell you to behave “I would replied yes ma’am and promise to do better. She was truly a great woman, loved by many and many loved her. My grandmother lived

It was near the end of winter 2005, when my grand-aunt suddenly fell ill. In a short period of time her illness worsened and the doctors informed my family, my grand-aunt only had a couple of months to live. The news was devastating to my family as we watched a vivacious, independent, and outspoken woman, who enjoyed shopping, reading mystery novels and spending time with family become very weak and confined to her bed. Instead of placing my grand-aunt in a hospice facility, my family and I, with the assistance of a hospice nurse cared for my grand-aunt in her home until her passing.

For example, my grandfather Jerry was a doctor and my Great Aunt Margaret and Pat were nurses. Anytime I was sick, my mom would always call her dad up and talk to him rather than rushing me to a doctor. When I was in the 7th grade, it was one of the hardest times of my life, Jerry was suffering from heart attacks and fluid in his lungs. I had never been exposed to the feeling of loss until he passed away. Losing one of my role models and someone that I cared deeply about made me a stronger person. Since his passing, I have seen more and more of my aunts and uncles than I had before, and growing strong relationships with all of them.

My grandma had survived a hard life, and yet managed to raise four responsible, well-educated, and successful children. All this she did while working as a respected psychiatric nurse and a state mental health board member. Although she had had and was still overcoming trials in life, I always knew she would be there and cared about me and my life. As my brother and I grew older and were unable to visit my grandparents as often as we