张迪 著于2013年6月

                     ‘The most powerful moral influence is example’ -Huston Smith

        To me, Grandma is a great influence, and I have many great memories of her.  She influences me in three aspects; to exercise daily, to be patriotic to the country, and to love properly.

        In spring of 2005, when I was around 4 years old, my father took me to visit China. We went to Hangzhou to visit my mother’s parents. My grandmother took my father and I to see the sights. My grandmother led us on a journey to the famous Yue Fen(岳坟). Even though she was already eighty years old, she walked the six miles to and from Yue Fen with us in the humid weather. I realize that this task was difficult for a person of her age; reflecting back on it, I see that her perseverance and she will to exercise as influential in molding me to become the athlete that I am today. Learning to be perseverant like her, I now force myself to swim everyday despite the cold weather, the 6:00 AM wake up times, or the strenuous practices because I know that exercise is essential to keeping fit and being healthy like my grandmother.

    Yue Feng is a grave site to the famous Chinese general Yue Fei(岳飞). One story was that he was arrested by Qin Hui(秦侩)and charged with treason. In order to save himself, Yue Fei took off his shirt and showed the court the tattoo on his back scripted with “Serve the country with utmost loyalty”. Yue Fei was immediately cleared of all charges. Later in his life, Yue Fei returned to the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty but Qin Hui and his men ambushed and killed Yue Fei .My grandmother took me to this historical site because she wanted me to be loyal to my country. Since I am an American Born Chinese, I have learned to be loyal to both my countries. While I live in America and take in American culture, I eat Chinese food, learn the Chinese language and history in order to preserve my Chinese heritage and the connection to my family in China.  

     Even though it took every ounce of strength she had to get to Yue Feng, she still did it for me because she loved me. It is a cherished memory of mine. While I was there, tired and frustrated with the blistering heat, I begged and pleaded for a soda. My grandmother informed me of the unhealthy risks of soda,  and I got a bottle of water instead. In addition to the ice cold water, my grandmother also bought me a Jin Gu Bang(金箍棒)that I had coveted for the entirety of the trip making us both content. I had received  a pretty toy and she had stopped me from making an unhealthy decision.  After I came back to America, I remember playing with the Jin Gu Bang constantly pretending I was Sun Wu Kong(孙悟空)while drinking plenty of water.  

      My grandmother taught me perseverance, loyalty, and the necessity of making wise decisions; all traits that I will hold onto for the rest of my life. These traits will not only make me a better person, but I will know to pass these onto my children so they can be as much of a person as my grandmother is. I thank her for teaching me these important characteristics and I deeply cherish the lasting impression she has made upon me.