Senior Reflections #2

Prompt #2:

What, would you say, is your most valuable possession? How did you acquire this possession? Why is it so meaningful?

In college interviews, interviewers often asked, “What is your most valuable possession?” Interested in the responses, once, I asked, “What do most people say?”   To my surprise, the phone came up a lot. But, if you ask me, a genuine letter beats out anything that technology could provide. A genuine letter is like an open confession created by strong emotion. A genuine letter is like a point of view essay from the author. A genuine letter is like a bird-eye view into realities of situations. A genuine letter feels like a deep personal statement from the author’s soul. A genuine letter feels like a heartthrob connection between two people. A genuine letter feels like a blessed heart that can never be broken.

My most valuable possession is my sister’s letter that she left for me before she left for college. I remember that day pretty clearly. It was September 17, 2012. I had a history test the next day, but I knew I could not study. I went to bed knowing that my sister would come in my room soon.

Eventually, she came. When she did, I knew that I never wanted her to leave. We stayed up until 3 a.m. until I was on the verge of falling asleep (I was a young dude!). Then, I just remember feeling alone, vulnerable, and empty, crying and crying, and then eventually falling asleep.

When I woke up, I saw a letter that my sister left for me. When I came home for school, I opened the letter, and I cried some more when I read over the words.

She told me to be happy, and she told me that I was her best friend. She told me everything that she loved about me, and how much she was going to miss me. She told me to explore high school more, and find what I loved to do. She told me to not worry about failure because they come in often, but to learn and embrace it when it does eventually arrive. She told me to make her proud. Last of all, she proceeded to tell me that she loved me, even if she may not have been the perfect sister. To me, she always will be.

To this day, I doubt she would want that letter ever seen in public. I do not think I want it out in public either. But it makes it for my most valuable possession.

The last time that I tried reading it, I teared up again, so I do not read the letter much anymore. The letter has just become a part of my room, and her words have become a part of the identity. I try to make myself and others happy, and she is my best friend. I fail a lot, but I try to use it as a learning curve and motivation for future success. The letter has become buried in a pile of other letters that I keep as sentimental value. But, it is not just another letter. It is an important message from a very important person. For that, the letter becomes priceless, and something I hope that I will keep for the rest of my life.

The letter is also a metaphorical reminder that all good things must come to an end. My sister must pursue higher education, while I needed to explore around high school for another three years. She had to leave, even if she did not want to. I had to embrace, but learn to let go. What a trying experience to wake up and know that for the first time in my life, my sister was not somewhere in her room, buried by her pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets.

Perhaps, most importantly, the letter is a reminder of who I am. The letter is a reminder of my childhood. The letter is a part of my story, a part of my hidden realities, a part of growing up, and a part of my life. The letter is part of my distant past, but a reminder of what lies ahead.

Thanks Cheryl for being the best sister possible, and thanks for the letter.

“You’re welcome, almond.”

“So, let’s cut down the red tape, and gather up the pieces of our youth because there’s nothing in this world we can’t fix with some scissors and glue.”

“Dear true love, I’m a writer without words, I’m a story that nobody heard when I’m without you.”