My Grandmother Is A Significant Figure Within My Life

My great-grandmother was the matriarch of my family. When I was in seventh grade, around thirteen years old, she passed away due to breast cancer. This misfortune created an extremely difficult time for me because, not only was I adjusting to the environment of junior high, but many other issues were occurring in my life; this was the third death that I was having to deal with. Unfortunately, one of the previous deaths (that I was still trying to hurdle through and come to terms with), had occurred almost exactly a year before the passing of my great-grandmother. The second death that I had gone through occurred only one or two months before my great-grandma has passed. All of this turmoil created numerous internal conflicts for me, but also taught me a key lesson to keep note of, for the rest of my life.

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.

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

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 grandmother was an amazing cook which allowed her to cook meals for profit. She also learned how to sew – making her own clothes and used this skill to profit as well. My grandmother tried her best and that was the important part. She provided wisdom, sense of security and support despite her mishaps. A woman who saw beyond her struggles to attain peace.

Born to a family of 8 siblings on June 20, 1953 in Del Rio Texas, my grandmother’s story had started.Back in the year of 1955  her mother had been working as a maid at the hotel called Francisco Grande Hotel (training hotel for the San Francisco Giants),making 80 cents an hour, while her father had been working with Cesar Chavez’s farm labor organization. They moved to Stanfield, Arizona during 1955, because her father had to work for the ranchers in the tractor fields. For  chores on  Saturday’s everyone in the family had to pick a room and clean that room, my grandmother’s prefered room to clean was the living room. On her spare time she liked to hang out with her friends such as going to see a movie or going to the mall.

Which, in my case the one who has influenced me the most into becoming a significant person would be my grandmother. She doesn’t let her sickness get in the way of helping others and telling me to never give up on my education. She would always say “work hard on anything that you believe in so even when times are tough.” My grandma is always there if needed either by helping in a way to get things done or by keeping people company. She’s full with an outstanding spirit, never asks for anything in return after getting the stuff done. It comes to show that her actions speak louder than words could ever do, By hearing all of the good things she does for people makes me want to become a better person. Therefore, I want to be able to assist people with a wide range of situations that they are facing

“I didn’t learn to be quiet when I had an opinion . The reason they knew who I was is because I told them.” (Ursula Burns)

Who in your life has caused you to become a better person? For some people it's a parent who has shaped you since the day that you were born. For others it's the stranger who always says hi to you when you see them on the street. Maybe it’s the couple down the block who struggles to make ends meet, but always has a positive attitude. It may even be the person who has hurt you the most. These people make us a better person even when we least expect it. I never realized the effect my grandmother had on my life until she stopped recognizing me.

My grandmother, Poppop, means everything to me. She is a Jesus-loving and caring human being. Anytime you need her, she's there. She is a great person and kind to everyone.

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

I couldn’t figure out what part she played in my life. She couldn’t remember my name when I was about eight. I wondered why. From what I know or was told, my grandmother was a little unusual for her time. Born in the 1920’s, she was the first in her family to get her bachelors and masters degrees, which was pretty impressive for a woman born in the 1920’s. She had a beautiful singing voice and was a member of AFTRA, did radio shows for KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania then became a speech pathologist and worked with children in the Milton Public School for most of her adult life. She was involved in church choirs and musical theatre and met my grandfather performing in Cohasset Summer Stock shows which were popular in the 1940s. She and my grandfather got married after he returned home from the war, settled in Milton where they raised two children, my mom and my uncle, sent them to Milton Academy, then to Harvard University and Wellesley College. They retired comfortably in their East Milton home, went to Fort Lauderdale, Florida semi-annually and did what a lot of retirees do… watched their health deteriorate. My grandfather bought an ice cream truck business and a segway when he was in his 70’s but that’s a talk for a different

Throughout our lives we come across many individuals that can have a positive or negative effect on us. You could have learned about them through books, television, or meeting them in person. For me, I just happened to have had a great influence that lived right under my roof. It was my sister Althea. What made her so special was that she was the second matriarch of the family, as well as a great role model for all her siblings.

I grew up in a small village in Mexico where there were no health care professionals. My grandmother was one of the women in the village who would take care of the sick. The knowledge and wisdom she gained over the years was passed on to my mother. One day, I remember my mother asking me to accompany her. It was late at night, all of the dogs would bark at us as we walked by, and I did not know where we were going. We came to the house of a sick child. It was then, I realized that my mother had been asked to come and give the child medicine. The privilege of getting to help the child get well again gave me a sense of accomplishment. What we had done there guided me to strive for something that would give me that same sense of accomplishment. In 1996, my family and I got the opportunity to move to the United States. As a little girl, I did not understand how such a sad and difficult goodbye would bring me to a better future. A place that has brought me closer, than I had ever thought, to accomplishing my dream of becoming a pharmacist. I am grateful for of all of the opportunities that living and studying in the United States has brought.

My grandmother, Esther Turner, has impacted my life in more ways than just simply being there for me, as a grandmother. She’s much more than that, in my eyes. Being the eldest of three, I’ve always taken on more responsibility as the older sister. It was my job to show my little brother and sister which paths were safe to take in this wild, confusing maze called life. At times, I felt like a mother myself, and at a young age, I found myself slightly intimidated by all the responsibilities that were laid on my shoulders. The main person I could talk to freely and openly, without judgment, was my grandmother. We have always been able to speak to each other about any and everything, nothing was off limits. That’s what I think brought us so close, the fact that she accepted me entirely for the person I presented to her.