Caring, In My Eyes
Caring is love and it can go a long way in life. When a few years ago my mom was going through hard times, all she had were my little brother and me. All she owned was what was in the refrigerator or cabinets: water, bread, a can of vegetables, and a small piece of meat. It was enough to feed my brother and me—and my mom let us eat, while she sat there letting her stomach growl. She thought nothing of her hunger so that our stomachs could be full.
Caring is willing to listen to someone’s issues in life. My long-time friend had gone through abuse, both verbal and physical, at the hands of her grandmother and aunt. They would beat her, sock her up, and knock her head into walls or glass. I remember one day she came to school with cuts on her head, arms, back, and chest. Every time something happened, she ended up calling me to stop her from running away or committing suicide. I let her stack her problems on my shoulders. I always told her, “You have to do better than those who have hurt you” and “It’s just another obstacle on your way to a happy life.”
Caring is telling the ugly truth about the real world. Growing up, I was always told about the world’s realities by my dad. Until this day, although he cannot be here with me, he tells me to overcome the issues I have faced. He’s behind prison walls and I’m out here facing this thing called life. My dad says that I give him the power to help those who are in there with him and for him to take classes to become a better person. My dad and I tell each other everything. When I went through depression, he told me to think about those who believe in me and to surround myself with people who have happy vibes, since many people in this world will bring you down.
Even though I am only a freshman in high school, life has taught me that respect, care, and love must be shared, so that friendships can be born and can thrive. Doing little things for other people can start something way bigger inside our hearts and theirs. Everyone needs someone to simply be there, not to fix everything or do anything in particular, just to be a support system. Through these people, I’ve learned how to care.