Feeling the soft wind blow on my face, I grow more and more determined to reach it. The repetitive back and forth is excruciating, but I try to reach the green leaves with desperation. I can feel the playset rocking under me, warning me of tipping, but 6-year-old me does not care. My goal is to reach the branches and pull a leaf off, for no reason other than pure enjoyment. I can hear my mom calling me to be careful, but I am almost there, almost reaching the branches, trying not to fall off my swing set.
The little pear tree right outside my back door has been nothing but a nice addition to my backyard. When I was a kid, I was always confused as to why it was called a pear tree if it never grew pears, but I always appreciated the white flowers it would create in spring. Every Easter since I was young, my parents would make tradition to take family photos in front of the blossomed tree. However, we can not do that anymore. The tree has grown, along with me and my sister, and it does not fit in frame anymore. I can no longer reach the tree, not even with a swing.
In many ways, I have grown along with my pear tree. I was always known as a shy kid. I never stepped out of my comfort zone, and always struggled with participation in class. I never wanted to be shy, but I felt that my voice was not important enough to be heard. Whenever I chose to be loud, people would look at me confused. Why was it that people did not expect me to speak? And since when had I built this reputation for myself? It was not my own perception of myself to not have ideas, but it was for others.
As I made my way into high school, I was brought into a new environment with new people. I realized in this bigger environment that nothing was as big of a deal as it seemed. I started raising my hand more in class and speaking my opinions in debates. Junior year, I was accepted into NHS, and joined student council. Student council was an environment I loved. Dispensing ideas and then watching them come to life was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I realized that my voice wanted to be heard and was valuable. I then ran for the executive board later that year and won. I now, with 5 others, help enact homecoming, raise charities, and overall make the school a better place to be. I used my voice to spread ideas and encourage others to be more involved in the school. I never would’ve thought that I would be here 5 years ago, let alone want to be here. But nowadays, I have blossomed into a person who loves speaking and leading others.
Due to the process of my growing pear tree, I am acutely aware of the passage of time and how precious it is. It is limited, and I must learn to do my best with what I have. If I do not take the chance to grasp the unknown, eventually it will become unreachable. Just like when I was young, I reach for things that are not easy. I try my best and focus on the goal, no matter the hardships. I use my voice to try and extend my influence. Noticing the changes around me and in me as I go into my last year of high-school, I hope that I will have blossomed just like my pear tree in the spring. As I make my way into college, I can become a better version of myself, grown and confident, but still the same at my roots.
