How To Be a Person

When I was little

I wet the bed a lot

And when I say a lot,

I mean A LOT.

And when I went to Outdoor Ed for the first time,

I had an accident during one of the activities.

I ended up crying for the rest of the night,

I couldn’t look any of my peers in the eye,

And I believed that everyone hated me.

Of course it would be hard for a fifth grader to understand

That accidents happen to everyone

And that it is nothing to be ashamed of.

As of today,

I can look back on it and laugh.

I can tell the story and make other people laugh.

Laughter is what makes me human.

I never anticipated how kindergarten could shape the next five years;

It felt like someone had pierced my heart with spears.

On my first day,

I didn’t know what to say,

Literally.

Cantonese is my mother tongue,

But everyone else spoke English.

A trip to Hong Kong

Left me feeling wrong.

Home, yet not home.

English took me a year to learn,

But for friendships I still yearned.  

Of course it would be hard for a five-year-old to understand

That there will always be at least one person to relate to,

And that I wasn’t alone.
As of today,

I can look back and smile.

I can tell my story and surprise people.

Love for others and myself is what makes me human.  

Many people believe

That the whole point of living is:

To get a job,

Get married,

Live a steady life.

But if you can’t look back on life

And laugh at your flaws,

At your mistakes,

At your accidents,

Then are you really living?

If you are unable to find friendship

In someone who may not look,

Talk,

Or act

Like you,

If you are unable to be inclusive,

Or make new friends,

Or show love to others,

If you can’t encourage the underdog,

Then are you really living?