NF Essay 2: A Father's Ways

A Father’s Ways

My father serves as one of my greatest role models and mentors. He is a venerable doctor and businessman. He can be a bit of a jerk when he teaches though. Once you get pass that, you can really learn something from him.

For me, driving is the ultimate personal “coming of age” activity. One day, you’re confined to the house, and the next you’re free, driving around town wherever you desire. I wanted to drive so that my parents wouldn’t be restricted by me and I wouldn’t be restricted by them. It’s the perfect trade…except my dad would be my teacher. I foresaw problems at every turn, but I could not turn down this opportunity.

Eventually, my dad decided it was time for me to get on the highway. This was a huge sign of trust. The day I chose was fantastic. A cold front had just blown through, so the weather outside felt cool and pleasant. The sky bled a prefect light blue like the Caribbean Sea. The clouds in the sky looked like cotton, pure white and fluffy. The black asphalt swept under me as I drove down the road toward I-75. The lanes were fairly open since it was a Sunday morning. Everything stayed that way for the short drive to the entrance ramp. I turn onto the ramp going an easy 40 mph, thinking, Alright I’m about to get onto the high-

            “SLOW DOWN! YOU SHOULDN’T BE GOING SO FAST!”

            Of course that was the moment my dad decided to shout in my face.
            As I gradually accelerated to a stable 70 mph, I moved into the center lane. Naturally, being my first time, I was shaking like crazy. I know I hadn’t drank any coffee or Coke that morning, but it felt like I had ten gallons worth with all the adrenaline that was pumping into my system. It took a while to get settled. Once I did, I started enjoying the scenery. As we drove southbound, we passed through large open prairies, bright green forest, and the occasional billboard sign. And of course, traffic problems seemed to be nonexistent on this pleasant Sunday morning. The clouds were floating across the sky, like rabbits jump-

            “USE RIGHT LANE! ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU ARE FIRST TIME DRIVER!”

            Why did he feel that it was his prerogative to yell at me about something every time I relaxed and getting comfortable? It just tenses me up.

            “Dad, this isn’t exactly my first time driving. I think I can handle the middle lane,” I said as my hands started shaking again.

            “MOVE TO RIGHT LANE NOW!” Guess who obeyed? Me.

            A few minutes later, I’m relaxed again. A few trucks were on the road; not surprising since this was the highway. There’s one stretching for what seemed like forever in front of me, so I moved to the center lane in case something catastrophic decided to happen. I was admiring the cattle grazing near the long paths of worn asphalt when a left-hand curve started coming up. I smoothly turned into the curve when of course:

            “DON’T OVER TAKE ON A TURN! SLOW DOWN!”

            “Dad, I’m maintaining speed; I’m NOT going to even attempt to pass that huge truck. You’re just making me MORE nervous! Please stop shouting directions.”

That day concluded with a perfect parking job in our garage and simple “good job.”

Looking back on the day though, I see what seemingly trivial things then have become my best driving habits. My father’s harsh critic brought me from a weak, shaky driver to a confident, well trained one. Soon, I will be driving alone, and I am always thankful of what my father has done for me, regardless of how cold it may seem in the moment.

NF essay 1: A Tiger's Lesson

A Chinese proverb says, “Strict teachers produce good students.”  But in the USA, with the implementation of “No Child Left Behind,” strict teacher can’t produce good students because schools are forced to tailor their education to the minds of the students.  Any smart child with huge potential can easily be dragged behind by anyone below the median.

            The rise of the “Tiger Mom” has brought about extensive controversy over social upbringing. The idea of such a strict regime for learning and living scares most Americans. Many working class parents would beg, “Why would any parent demand so much out of their children? Wouldn’t that just scar them and lower their self-esteem? No, everything must be perfect and tailored just right for my child. Everyone else must adapt for his sake. My child is perfect; everyone else is at fault.” Though it is rather exaggerated, this idea does somewhat describe the American parents’ mindset.

            Yet when I think about it, I ask, “Why, in a society so diverse, must we make education so uniform to accommodate the students? Shouldn’t the students learn to adapt to the teachers, as to better prepare them to adapt to people they will encounter and face in society?” Since my sister and I were very young, our parents taught us to always listen to the teacher and if we didn’t like one, we had to deal with the teacher and adjust to his methods. It’s not like our employer when we first step into a business interview fresh out of college would change his work codes to meet our deficiencies. He would simply not hire us. So I don’t see a reason why it’s necessarily the school system’s job to ensure the success of the students. Students must build their own methods in order to succeed, particularly in self-discipline and social maturity.

            Younger children have difficulty accepting this strict behavior since their scatter brains are so active. To cope with this, parents must impose a form of discipline upon their children at an early age. This method I personally have tested. Both my sister and I from a young age were taken through the “Tiger Mom” method until we reached the age when we had strong self-discipline and behavior. Our mother relentlessly forced us to study, practice, and learn; whatever it took to always stay at the top of the class. One year, my mother forbad my sister to go to prom because she had to prepare for the SAT, even though she had been preparing for it for at least five years. Of course, this method did pay off. My sister graduated top of her high school class, earned almost a perfect score on the SAT, and produced straight 5s on the AP tests she took. She attended an internationally respected business school, and now works for a major consulting firm. During her college years, she also started Taekwondo and has since earned her black belt. I myself have risen to one of the top students in my class and am taking many of my classes with juniors and seniors.

            People still don’t believe in the “Tiger Mom” story. My own friends think that the method couldn’t possibly work. Yet right next to them is a perfect example of the success of the method. A study once showed that kids with patience and discipline are more likely to succeed. Why don’t we learn something from a proven method?