COWBIRD: MY BIGGEST HERO JOURNAL
My Adventure Partner
My biggest hero isn’t an action movie superhero, or famous celebrity, or important leader in society. My real life superhero is my dad. He may not seem to possess superpowers from a normal passerby's perspective, but in my eyes he is my hero. Not a lot of people know it, but my dad is a big part of my life and character. I would not be nearly the person I am today without him. He is my rock, my stronghold, my most enthusiastic cheerleader, my adventure partner and best friend. At the start of my childhood it was his goal to expose me to as many experiences as possible. We went camping every year as a family to Yosemite National Park, he enrolled me in any sports I showed interest in, and he introduced me to many outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking. He has taught me at a young age to, as cliché as it sounds, to always work hard and put in my best effort. Today, there is no doubt in my head to not put in all my best efforts and skill into everything I do, no matter how disinterested I am. He instilled an industrious work ethic in me since I was a child. One memory I can vividly recall of him teaching me this is when he taught me to dribble a basketball blindfolded in the garage when I was five years old. I wanted to be as skilled as my sister and him, but he also taught me that when you first do something you enjoy you are never good at it, but you persist because it is your passion. He is also my greatest supporter in school and competitive gymnastics. He always makes sure I am prepared for gymnastics competitions mentally and physically and also on track with my academics, even if it means sacrificing some football games or March Madness. He knows when I’ve had enough to do and need some time to take a break or “live a little”, even when I don’t know it myself. My dad is there to pick me up on time from school and rush me to my gymnastics practice, and he always makes sure I have eaten. In our car rides from school we always have moments of laughter and profound conversations pondering the world. Often times we talk about much more serious topics, like current events or which stocks to currently invest in, but we always have something to talk about. My dad is constantly challenging my thinking and testing me to be a person of humble character yet also to have my own opinions and stick up for myself. Sometimes we will spend weekends getting away from school, gymnastics, and work by driving around the county and exploring shops and new bakeries. We love to try French pastries like macaroons and Napoleon's from new European bakeries we have discovered and pretend to be food critics. Other times we cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway and take spontaneous stops and hikes around the area. My dad loves taking photographs and trying to be "artsy", so he is always capturing some of our greatest memories. Every weekend or afternoon we have together is a new adventure. And I can’t forget about how many astounding and random stories my dad has. He tells me about his stupid childhood memories from growing up in the Philippines, like jumping of a cliff and running over the maid with the car, to playing broomball on frozen lakes in Canada and borrowing cars to take random road trips. He’s just got a way of talking about his past that is just like watching an old film. I am inspired by how my dad became a successful adult, being raised in a third-world country and paying for all his own education, while still “living life” and making the necessary mistakes along the way. I've learned from him that it is the little moments that count, like sitting by the fireplace or taking a stroll down the streets of a city or just taking a second to breathe in and appreciate the scenery of life. He constantly reminds me to keep balance in my life at all costs. I am so thankful to have him as such a big part of my life and I hope our adventures continue for many years to come.