By Elizabeth Tang, Grade 6
As a student, of course, my life is full of homework and childlike innocence. To me, everyone gets a different life; it depends on what we see and learn every day. As we grow up, our experiences change.
Looking back, what built me wasn’t just the things that teachers taught me. When I became a teenager, I had to grow through interpersonal relationships, which are extremely complex. I tried to swallow my tears after being ignored by others. I learned to swallow my tears when doors were gently shut in my face, forcing a polite smile instead, and I learned to keep being polite to everyone. It was hard for me to handle relationships with my classmates. When I was little, I was always frank and played on my own. Time was changing me, making me turn into an introverted person. However, I didn’t feel sorry for this. Stepping into the shadows didn’t mean I was lonely; it was simply my way of wearing invisible armor. It is a method of protecting myself. As time passed, that’s the way I learned fortitude and said “goodbye” to the girl who liked to cry.
What built my life were “pipe dreams”. I dreamed of being a hero, dreamed of being seen, and dreamed of being the princess in the story. I dreamed of finishing my homework before the clock struck eight, and whispered a wish that the teacher’s eyes would skip my name during text recitations. These “daydreams” seemed too small, but they completed me. They were the footprints of my life and the evidence of me trying to live life to the fullest. I really didn’t expect my daydreams to become real, but I knew they were the beginning of my imagination. Years later, when I become an adult, I think it will be funny to recall my dreams.
What built my life is friendships. I’ve always wanted to be “followed”. Very unfortunately, I wasn’t good at making friends. However, there’s always a friend who supports me every time. The days with her became enriched and happy. We have the same hobbies and the same thoughts; maybe this is a “soulmate”? The things that build me aren’t just about myself; I can learn different lifestyles from others.
What built me? What is myself? What are my life coordinates? I still have many questions to explore for the answers. Or maybe there isn’t a single right answer. The things that built me are too many to count; I only list a few of them. However, I won’t stop tasting my life. To me, recognizing yourself isn’t as hard as we think—it is just a matter of time. Growth is not about finding a standard answer, but a lifelong exploration. The pieces that build who I am are far too many to count. Each tear, each daydream, and each shared smile is a brick in this endless masterpiece called life.
