Category: art

Y.Hong

A loaf of bread

K.Park

I gently knocked on the door three times, but there was no answer. After a while, I finally heard some noise inside the apartment. The door creaked open, and a tiny old woman peeked out. Although her hollowed cheeks were nothing like those of my own grandmother, I felt as though I had known her for a very long time. Her face was lined and creased like the pages of an old notebook with a lifetime of stories. Perhaps that was why, as I stepped into the cramped and cinnamon-scented room, there was a feeling of comfort embracing me in her gentle smile and wise eyes.

In contrast to the soothing smell of warm cinnamon, the room was gray and dim. Soon the awkward movement of a small soul crawling about near my feet caught my attention. There, on the floor, was a little girl whose anxious eyes met mine. I turned to the old woman as she began talking.

“Come in, come in. Oh, look at your face. The weather must’ve been killin’ you!”

Trying not to alarm the girl, I tried to say hello but realized that she was nervously dragging herself away from where I stood toward her grandmother.

“Don’t worry my dear, my little one needs no legs. She has me here all the time.”

The old woman put her bony arms around the child, brushing her soft hair and hugging her tightly as if she would never let her go. Watching her cuddling the little girl as if she were holding a treasure, I felt tears welling in my eyes.

Lost in my thoughts in this beautiful yet sorrowful scene, I didn’t realize that the old woman had stopped talking and seemed to be waiting for something. Suddenly remembering why I was there, I hurriedly rummaged through my bag for the loaf of bread and gave it to her, who now appeared sincerely apologetic. I felt my face redden for making her feel this way and silently watched as she tore the bread into tiny pieces and put them into the girl’s hungry mouth. As she slowly and carefully fed each piece to the beaming child, I wondered whether I had ever had such as a delicious meal myself.

Finding Something Requires Losing Something

Are you afraid of losing things?

Before you answer this seemingly straightforward question, I think you should think carefully about what losing really means.

No one is completely calm when he or she loses something valuable. Sometimes this loss…like losing a loved one…can be devastating.

On the other hand, we should keep in mind that those who are likely to succeed are ones who can overcome their loss and become stronger. This is because the key to success may be learning from the loss.

For example, in John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, Joad’s family is driven from their land by drought and the dust bowl. They move west to find a better life, and as a result, they lose their familiar homeland. That is, they lose their home only to take the risk of finding a better one. Later they find no jobs and a hard life and therefore begin to lose hope and confidence. However, they are determined to work harder because they want new opportunities and a better life. As a result, the more they lose, the harder they try and more they find.

As another example, Rosa Parks was arrested and jailed in 1955 because she refused to give up her seat to a white person. This event inspired Martin Luther King to become one of the most powerful figures in the civil rights movement, eventually leading to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What did King lose? He lost his freedom, peace, and time. And he lost the most important thing to any person…his life……a hero killed by a madman. However, he found his life’s purpose and helped the oppressed find freedom.

On a personal note, I have faced two main paths in my academic career: to take Gao Kao and go to a Chinese college or take the SAT and go to an American college. The choice was very hard for me. Going to a Chinese college means staying close to my family and friends. Going to an American college means more diversity and new experiences and opportunities. No one knows what the future holds, and so I don’t know which path is the right one. However, I have chosen the American path because I am one adventurous woman! J This also means that I would lose the Chinese path. So, does this loss mean I would gain something in America? Well, I think that depends on how hard I work and challenge myself. I am ready!

There is a saying that water continues to exist even after turning into vapor. This tells us that, each time we lose something, we have a new opportunity to reach our ultimate goals.

Finding something requires losing something.

J.Du

Guzheng Recitals of J.Yu