Max Marlow



Mrs. Nash
Senior Transition
20 September 2019

1.
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that
is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete
without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.


The
most memorable day of my life is March 25th, 2012. My school-project
was finished but I needed to print it for my 5th-grade class; my home
printer did not work, so my mom volunteered to drive me to her office
printer where I could complete my project on time. On the way there
we happened across a crashed motorcycle, smashed and in pieces, and
surrounded by policemen. My mom asked me in a concerned voice whether
the motorcycle belonged to my dad. I do not know if I did not
recognize the smashed up bike or if I subconsciously ignored its
familiarity, but I responded confidently that the motorcycle did not
belong to my father. My mother was less certain and drove around a
second time to ask the policeman on the scene. My mom is a
pediatrician and many in our town recognize her as their own kids’
doctor; he greeted her by name. She asked the officer if my dad was
the one in the accident; he responded yes, that would be him.
I
remember my mom thanking the officer and turning around towards a
family friend’s house to drop me off. She called her friend and I
could tell the severity of the situation solely based on the sound of
her voice. The trip to my friend’s house seemed to pass by in an
instant and everything was a blur as I found myself sleeping in the
spare bed reflecting on the situation. The day’s events hit me hard
as I tried to go to sleep, conscious of my closest friend sleeping in
the bunk above me. The next day I went to school, unlike my other
siblings, and found a class full of compassionate people apologizing
for the state of my dad. I wished that they would not mention it, my
dad was alive but it only made me more sad when they brought it up. I
learned to hide my emotions as best I could determined to avoid
crying in front of anyone. I am now grateful for the get-well cards
my classmates made and the compassion shown towards me, even if I
would have preferred to ignore the whole situation as a kid.
The
accident left my dad in a wheelchair for the rest of his life; I
learned to cope with grief and that, at any time, a life-altering
incident can happen to anyone. My dad’s accident has certainly
affected my family and me for the rest of our lives. At first, the
stares of people as I wheeled my dad into restaurants or to my band
concerts annoyed me. Over time, I have come to accept and ignore
strange looks and pitiful expressions. This situation has me
comfortable with myself, and with others; I do my best to accept
people and their situations and not make judgments towards people I
do not know. I have also learned to appreciate the people and things
around me; to remember that life can change in an instant, and to be
flexible and prepare for unexpected consequences throughout my whole
life.