LIVING LIFE YOUR WAY

Although one would naturally think that a world as diverse as the one we live in would have people living very different from each other, after of course controlling for variables such as culture, race, and gender, but the truth of the matter is that most people follow social norms and customs. In other words it is my impression that although we are all so very different, the majority of us behave the same. In my life I have met an individual who has influenced my life and change my perspective of what is right and what is wrong. Genaro is a very memorable person who has influenced my life and who also has changed the way I live now my life. Genaro is someone who constantly challenges me to grow, think, and react to my environment based on how I feel rather than follow the standard or norm. Moreover, Genaro is the type of person who is always willing to take risks, and by doing so, is a nonconformist whose energy and world vision is full of zest.

Knowing my friend Genaro has made me a better person. Genaro is a free spirit who follows his heart and writes poetry, and always has something very stylish to say that inspires me to become a better individual. Genaro lost his father and his mother when he was five years old in a car accident after that accident he had to live with his grandparents. Although he did not have his parents, Genaro went to University for twelve years getting his bachelors degree, his masters and finally his PHD degree It was on Monday February 19, 2005. During that time I was taking my first class of ESL at Santa Monica College. I was at Starbucks on Main Street writing an essay and it was there when I meet Genaro. After few minutes of writing my essay Genaro saw that I was having a lot of trouble writing my essay so he decided to come up to me and introduced himself. “Hello my name is Genaro, I teach literature at USC and I have been watching you for few minutes. Are you having trouble writing your essay?”. I responded “I don’t speak fluent English and this is my first time writing and essay in English and I find it very difficult” After that he revealed that he was an student too and he knows the difficulties of a foreign student learning a different language and even worst writing an essay in a fpreign language. Genaro gave me some clues of how to write an essay by using an easy and satisfactory way of writing. Genaro told me that the first thing that I needed to do is to write an outline. He also said that after I have the outline I can begin writing my essay based on the structure of my outline. For some instance, Genaro and I talked for a few more minutes and, before he left, he gave me his cell-phone number and also told me that if I need any help just call him and he would be more than happy to help me.

Two weeks later, I was at a Borders and Nobles in Marina Del Rey buying some books for my English class; consequently, it was there the second time that I saw Genaro. He was buying some books for his class at USC. I saw him looking trough some books and I decided to go and say hello to him. Genaro said hello back to me and asked me how my essay was. We started talking about school and many other topics; I found out that he is someone who has suffered a lot in his life. However, based on his way of talking and expressing, I noticed that Genaro was a very intelligent person. In addition to that, I told Genaro that I was thinking of dropping out of school and finding myself a full time job; nevertheless, Genaro told me that that was the worst step I could ever take in my life. Moreover I explained to him that English is a very difficult language and that I was not doing very well in my classes. Genaro on the other hand told me that it is very normal for anyone to learn a new language; however, it is not impossible. Genaro said that he usually goes to the same Starbucks where we meet every day at the same time and if I wanted I could go there and meet with him so he could help me with my assignments and could also be my tutor in order to improve my English and my writing. For a completely month I was going to Starbucks four days a week in order to learn and to reach my whole potential in English. I recognized that after getting help from Genaro I improved my English a lot and in a very easy way. That is the reason why I always said that Genaro challenged me to learn and grow and that he is a memorable person who has helped me to succeed in my life.

During my fathers’ funeral was the third and most important encounter that I have with Genaro. Even though he was not a very close friend to the family, when Genaro found out that my father had died he came to the house and offered help with my fathers funeral arrangements. I would never forget that after my father died Genaro gave me a lot of support. In addition to that, Genaro also was the one who helped me to prepared all of the arrangements for the funeral. Sadly, my mother being handicaped and not capable of work after my father died, I was the one who was taking care of my mother. I had to work and go to school in order to make that happened. During the first months of working, going to school, paying the rent, buying lunch and taking care of my other I need to recognize “It was really hard”. It was very difficult that I could not sleep for weeks just thinking of solutions to avoid all those problems. I was depressed all the time. I felt lonely in this world with no support from anybody; however, Genaro was always there to demonstrated me that nothing was wrong and that everything will be okay.

In conclusion, Genaro is some one who has had made many challenges in my life and who also has helped me to overcome all of the obstacles that appeared in my life with grace and great strength. I find strength in knowing that there are individuals like him, because he constantly teaches me to think outside the box and follow my intuition. I believe there is a purpose to rules and social norms as they help create structure, and a sense of community however I sometimes these norms are used as life maps or as replacements to individuality and creativity. As I get older I suppose I wan to continue to be motivated by seeking the balance Genaro has found in his life as he negotiates his differences while participating as law abiding citizens.