Category: Personal is Political

To wrap up my collection of blog entries, I want to talk about a story that doesn’t necessarily have any glaring or shocking details but however touches upon basic lessons that I have learned and used ever since. The story begins when I was in elementary school, either third or fourth grade. My dad rented a small boat for the day so we could take it out on water to fish. The boat was very small and could only fit the two of us and maybe one or two more people. We left the dock early in the morning in anticipation of being out on the water for most of the day. This fishing trip wasn’t just a fun experience that I spent with my father, but it taught me many lessons about the outdoors, and also many basic life lesson. Many of these tips became useful for things like camping, which I have blogged about in the past.

I remember the first thing my dad said to me when we left the shore was how to hold the rod, how to attach the lure, and how to cast and catch the fish. This fishing trip was my first time out on a boat to fish, so you can imagine the pure excitement that I had as a young person. I was filled with joy when I caught my first fish, and I felt like I had not only accomplished something, but I also made my dad proud. All of this excitement came crumbling down however when my dad told me that I had to toss the fish back into the water. I remember being so confused as to why I couldn’t keep the fish, but obviously that rule is in place for a reason and I was just too young to understand at that point.

Along with all of our fishing supplies, my father also brought a small Foreman grill on the boat. My dad showed me how to cook on the grill that day, as it was my first chance to be able to cook something at that point in my life. We brought a pack of pork roll, eggs, and bagels. He showed me how to cook the pork roll and how to make scrambled eggs on the grill, and while I tried, I will say that eight year old me was not well versed behind the grill. I was ecstatic that he showed me how to cook that though, because I’ve been making the same pork roll and egg sandwich for myself ever since.

I’m extremely grateful for all of the life lessons that my father has taught me over the course of my life. My dad has taught me everything that I know, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. I urge everyone to listen to what their parents tell them. Sometimes we may not want to listen, but whatever they have to say will always benefit you.

 

Sitting in the hospital waiting room, I felt a mix of anxiety and determination swirling within me. My grandfather was battling illness, and I was determined to be there for him in every possible way. It all began when my grandfather’s health took a sudden turn for the worse. The once vibrant man who had filled us with stories of his youth was now confined to a hospital bed. Witnessing his decline was heart-wrenching, but I refused to let despair consume me. Instead, I resolved to be his rock, offering unwavering support and companionship during his time of need.

One of the most important roles I played during this challenging period was that of a listener. I quickly realized that my grandfather found solace in sharing his thoughts and fears with me. Whether it was reminiscing about the past or expressing concerns about the future, I listened attentively, offering words of encouragement and comfort whenever needed. Just knowing that he had someone to confide in seemed to ease his burden, and our conversations became a source of strength for both of us.

As the days turned into weeks, I witnessed firsthand the resilience and determination that defined my grandfather’s character. Despite the obstacles he faced, he remained steadfast in his resolve to overcome his illness and reclaim his health. Inspired by his strength, I redoubled my efforts to support him, cheering him on every step of the way.

One of the most memorable moments of this journey occurred during a particularly difficult day at the hospital. My grandfather was feeling disheartened, his spirits at an all-time low. Sensing his troubles, I knew that I had to do something to lift his mood. Drawing upon cherished memories from our past, I began to recount stories of our adventures together, injecting humor and warmth into our conversation. Slowly but surely, I watched as a smile spread across my grandfather’s face, his eyes twinkling with newfound hope. In that moment, I realized the profound impact that simple acts of kindness and companionship can have on someone’s spirit.

Ultimately, my grandfather’s journey towards recovery was not easy, but it was marked by resilience, love, and unwavering support. Through it all, I stood by his side, offering whatever comfort and assistance I could muster. And while the road ahead may still be challenging, I am grateful for the opportunity to be there for my grandfather when he needed me most. Our bond, forged through adversity, is stronger than ever, a testament to the enduring power of love and family.

High school can be a challenging time for many students, especially when faced with difficult classes like AP Literature. I remember vividly the struggles I encountered during my senior year of high school when I found myself drowning in complex texts and overwhelming assignments. I remember just staring at a piece of poetry, lost in the complexities of the words. It was during this time that Mr. Reynolds, my AP Lit teacher, became my guide, offering unwavering support and encouragement when I needed it most. Entering Mr. Reynolds’ classroom on the first day of the new school year, I was expecting a tough work load. I had heard rumors about the difficulty of his class, but I was determined to rise to the challenge. However, as the weeks went by, I quickly realized that the readings were more demanding than I had anticipated, and I found myself falling behind. I was having problems understanding Shakespeare’s diction, understanding the style and meaning of poems, and I was struggling with prose. It was during one particularly low moment where I found the courage to ask Mr. Reynolds for help. Nervously approaching his desk after class, I poured out my concerns, admitting my struggles and expressing my fears of failure. Mr. Reynolds listened attentively, and ensured that I will succeed.

Instead of reprimanding me for falling behind, Mr. Reynolds offered words of reassurance and a willingness to support me in any way he could. He also provided suggestions on how I should study the material, like forming a study group with classmates who excelled in the subject, providing additional resources for comprehension, and even offering to meet with me outside of class to go over difficult concepts if I needed.

As the semester progressed, I noticed a significant improvement in my understanding and confidence. No longer did I dread attending AP lit. Instead, I looked forward to the engaging discussions and challenges it presented. With Mr. Reynolds’ support, I not only survived the course but thrived in it, with a massive jump in grades toward the second half of the year. Beyond the academic side of things, Mr. Reynolds taught me invaluable life lessons about perseverance, resilience, and the power of reaching out for help when needed. His unwavering belief in my abilities empowered me to push through obstacles and strive for excellence, both inside and outside the classroom.

As I look back on senior year, I am filled with gratitude for the impact Mr. Reynolds had on my life. His dedication to his students and passion for literature inspired me to engage in the material more. Though our time together in AP Literature was brief, the lessons I learned from Mr. Reynolds will stay with me for a lifetime, serving as a reminder that if you are every struggling with something, sometimes all you need to do is reach out.

Life often presents us with unexpected challenges, and it’s during these moments that the strength of our friendships truly shines. One challenge that I strongly remember was a Saturday afternoon last year. I received a call from my friend Dillon, where he said that his car broke down. He drove a 2005 Saturn Ion, a car that has not been manufactured since 2008, with well over 200,000 miles on it. Both of his parents were at work, so he quickly called me instead. I assured him that I would be there as soon as possible, and I quickly rushed to his aid. Despite the inconvenience and uncertainty of the situation, I was determined to provide him with the support he needed.

After assessing the situation and making some calls, it became clear that the car wouldn’t start, and we were left with no choice but to call for roadside assistance. While waiting for help to arrive, I did my best to keep Dillon’s spirits up, offering words of reassurance and comfort. We laughed at the absurdity of the situation and reminisced about past adventures, which helped to alleviate some of the tension. I wanted to make light of the situation because Dillon kept on mentioning that if the car doesn’t get fixed, his family doesn’t have the money for a new one. Eventually, the tow truck arrived and hauled the Saturn away. On our car ride back to my house, we had a very heartfelt conversation that made our bond and friendship even stronger.

After dropping Dillon off back at his house, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of fulfillment knowing that I did the right thing and helped make the situation a little bit better for my friend. After about two weeks, the car was back up and running, which I thought was a miracle seeing as the car was basically a relic.

Reflecting on this experience, I am reminded of the impact we can have on each other simply by being there in times of need. Whether it’s offering a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, or practical assistance, our willingness to extend a helping hand can make all the difference in someone’s life. When you go out of your way to help a friend, it not only means the world to your friend, but it also makes you feel like a better person. After all was said and done, Dillon would always thank me for what I did and he would always reassure he gratitude.

To wrap things up, the most important takeaway from this experience is that helping a friend in need is not just about solving problems, but it’s about showing compassion, empathy, and support. It’s about being there for each other through thick and thin, knowing that together, we can overcome any obstacle that life throws our way.

As a kid, I was always outside. My friends and I were always outside after school doing God knows what and having a great time. One of my favorite things to do was camping. My father took me camping several times as a kid and I always had a great time. One particular time, we all went camping for a week at a campground. The trip started off great, with all of us hanging out playing games and having a good time. My favorite part was the nightly fire pit that we had where we would relax by the fire until it was time for us to go to sleep and repeat the cycle in the morning.

During this trip, I bunked with one of my closest friends. This was his first time camping for this long of a time and he was understandably going through a lot of emotions. We were very young, away from home, and in the middle of the woods. The second we got to the campground I made it my mission to make sure everything was going fine for him and that he was doing good. During the first day, we were having a great time tossing a football around, playing corn hole, and fishing in the lake. We rapped up the day with the fire pit until it was time for bed. It wasn’t until two in the morning when he woke me up. He was having a hard time sleeping and he had to go to the bathroom. Since we were kids, there was a rule that anywhere you went, you had to be accompanied with someone else. So, I went with him to the tiny old outhouse in the middle of the night. When we got in, we both heard this noise that sounded like a baby rattle. After hearing this, we both turned around and saw this massive bat just hanging on the wall right next to us. We both instantly ran out of there and back to our tent. That night not only made us closer friends, but it also showed him that I was by his side and that everything he was going through, I was going through as well.

That night helped him see that he was not alone and that everyone was experiencing the same thing as him. After that night I continued to help him throughout the trip. By the end of the camping trip, he was totally comfortable with everything and he ended up having a great time. This camping trip taught me so much about myself and how to handle myself during trying times. I learned many leadership qualities that I have been using ever since the trip. I am grateful for this camping trip and the bonds I built from it.

As a person who has grandparents that immigrated to the United States, I have always believed that immigration is very important. My grandmother lived in Glasgow Scotland up until her twenties and my other set of grandparents came from Sicily. As a kid, I always found their stories about their homes to be fascinating. Hearing about the cultures and beliefs of other countries was extremely fascinating to hear about as a child, since life as a kid is almost like a bubble. My grandmother used to tell stories about her times living back at Scotland and she also talked about her immigration experience to Ellis Island. I remember listening to her stories and thinking about how complicated the whole processed seemed. More importantly, it was odd to me that the people working there weren’t the most pleasant people.

The topic of immigration resurfaced in my life when one of my best friend’s grandmother was trying to become a citizen. We were in middle school and his grandmother was going through the process. My friend was explaining to me what was going on and I was shocked at how the situation was going. His grandmother was from Turkey and she mainly speaks Russian, with a broken English accent. During the citizenship test they wouldn’t let my friend’s mom accompany her mother during the test for translations. This was particularly strange because this is something that they usually allow. Without her daughter present, my friend’s grandma didn’t pass the test and it was back to square one.

After hearing this story, I was shocked at how the system worked and I thought it was strange how harsh the employees were. I’ve believed since I was young that everyone immigrating to the United States from another nation deserves an equal chance at becoming a citizen. People should not be prioritized or swept under a rug because they can or cannot speak English. My friend told me that this was the second time that they failed to give his grandmother a fair chance at citizenship. I found this to be insane, seeing as my grandmother didn’t have as challenging of an experience back in the 60s when she moved.

There is a silver lining to this story however, as eventually she got a third opportunity and did not waste it. This time around, they allowed her daughter to be there, and she aced her test. I was extremely happy to hear this news as I am very close to them and I also related to what they were going through. I believe all immigrants deserve a fair chance at citizenship so situations like this can be prevented.

My love for football dates all the way back to the 2010 NFL season. My father has been a lifelong New York Jets fan and it wasn’t until January of 2011 when he passed his fandom down to me, a six year old kid. The Jets have had a pretty rough history, putting it lightly, but in 2009 and 2010 the Jets reached back-to-back AFC Championship games, putting them just one win away from a Super Bowl berth. In 2009 the Jets fell to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. My dad told me that he thought that was our last chance at finally winning another Super Bowl championship. However, the Jets did the unthinkable and found themselves back into the playoffs the very next year, even defeating a prime Tom Brady and the Patriots on the road in the Divisional Round. And then the next week rolled around and it was time for Jets vs. Steelers, winner goes to the Super Bowl. This games remains my first ever memory of watching a football game, and from then on I was hooked. Unfortunately, the Jets lost to the Steelers and when my dad repeated his same line as the year before “Well that was our only chance”, he ended up being right because the Jets haven’t even been to the playoffs since that game.

When I entered fourth grade I decided I wanted to play football. And I did, all the way through sophomore year of high school. When I entered high school, it was my dream to play quarterback for the team, as that was the position I had played my whole life. Unfortunately, my team was extremely good and had two quarterbacks already lined up to play. So, they made me play free safety, a position that I wasn’t too fond of. I played at free safety for all of the freshman season without any injuries at all. Freshman year was a fun season, as we played against kids the same ages as us and it felt like playing pee wee football all over again. And then, sophomore year rolled around and I got the safety job for the JV team. I played the whole first game pretty well, and I was feeling good about myself. However, week two rolled around and on the second play of the game, the other team passed the ball to the running back, who was like a foot shorter than me, and I didn’t get low enough and his helmet went right into my ribcage. I remember just laying on the grass for about ten seconds to collect myself, and then I was helped up and gingerly walked off the field. While I was sitting on the bench, my coach yelled out to me “Bachovchin, can you go?”, and I bent over to grab my helmet and shot right back up and said “Nope, not a chance”. The pain I felt when I bent over was excruciating, and I had no shot to play. The injury knocked me out for two more games. My father told me that whenever you fall, you gotta get back up. I did just that and when I returned to the field in week 5, I let them know who I was.

When I was in middle school, my father got promoted on his police force from patrolman to sergeant and because of this, he had to switch from his day shift to working midnights. With him working nights he experienced a slew of crazy calls that his squad had to go to. The one that I remember the most vividly took place when I was in seventh grade. They received a call from an elderly woman who was in extreme panic and distress. She told the dispatcher that her son was intoxicated and was threatening her. Once they got to the house they were able to see flames through the windows on the first floor. The woman’s son had apparently had several run-ins with the officers for quite some time and he was not in a great place mentally. He claimed that his mother was the reason why his life was where it was at and as a result, he attempted to burn her house down. Thankfully by the time they arrived it was early enough to put an end to the fire without it causing any major damage. The officers went in and found the man just standing in the middle of the house just watching it burn around him, while his mother was hiding somewhere else in the home. My father was able to calm down the man and was able to escort him out of the house and into custody. After they removed him from the home they successfully found the woman hiding in a bathroom and they evacuated her from the house.

When my dad first told me this story, I vividly remember my mouth being agape at the dinner table. As a child I knew that my dad had a very dangerous job, but I did not know that sometimes the extent of the job could reach heights like this. Hearing how my father handled himself in that situation showed me how I can handle myself during a trying time. It taught me how to be fearless and how I can use acts of bravery to get me through a difficult situation.

During the next week, my one friend was getting bullied in school. It had been going on for a few weeks and he didn’t tell anyone at that point. It wasn’t until that Tuesday of Wednesday when I experienced for myself what was happening. During gym class that day, these two guys were all in his face and were shoving him around. I saw this happening from a distance and was immediately concerned. The two guys pushed my friend to the ground and then walked away. I ran over to my friend and asked him what was going on. Once he told me, I remembered the lesson that my dad taught me and decided to act. I told the teacher what happened and the guys were ordered to detention. I had been friends with him for so many years and couldn’t stand by and watch what was happening, especially after the lesson I had just learned. I am so thankful that I learned that lesson when I did, as it helped make me a better person.

From a very young age my father has always told me stories. As a police officer for 25 years now, he has a vault full of stories about things he has seen in the line of duty. All of these stories have helped shape me become the man I am today.

The story that has stuck with me the most dates back to when I was in middle school. Me and my sister were home alone in the afternoon when our mom called us saying that our dad is in the hospital and that our aunt was on her way to take us there. Me and my sister were obviously concerned by this and all we were thinking about was our dad. When we got there we found our dad being evaluated by a doctor. He was totally fine, thankfully, and this is when we found out what happened.

He told us that earlier that day him and two other officers went to a call and found a distressed man with a knife. The man was contemplating suicide and the officers were there to calm him down. The man was even threatening the officers that he would harm them. My dad talked to him and tried to calm him down for about twenty minutes when the man charged at one of the officers with the knife. After hearing this story I was struck with many different emotions. But I then I learned one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever received. It’s that no matter the situation, you should always try to help people in need. My father’s bravery in that moment showed me so much about how to be a better person. He told me that simple acts of kindness also goes a long way. Comforting people in need and offering your help not only benefits the person but it also builds your ability to help others which stays with you forever. This incident really took a toll on the other two officers involved and they had to retire because of the post-traumatic stress. Nowadays, law enforcement gets a lot of slack from people who either don’t know any officers or people that don’t simply understand law enforcement. This has always bothered me because these brave men and women are out there 24/7 protecting us under their own will. I have always respected this and growing up around a ton of cops really showed me that these guys aren’t just guys with guns but that they are brave and selfless men and women with families just like everyone else. I am honored that I was able to grow up around these men because each and every one of them, not just my dad, have taught me so much about life. For instance, one of my dad’s closest friends from the force taught me how to handle the college decision process over a game of corn hole. To wrap up, all I have to say is that I am so thankful for my father and everything he has taught me over the years.