In a loud city or in a quiet town, have you ever heard or seen an airplane fly right above you? Of course you have. It is a common thing. A part of our daily lives. Ever since I was little and until now, I believe in airplanes.
At the age of four years old, I rode an airplane for the very first time. This airplane took me to Hong Kong, a place full of exotic foods and bright city lights. Along with me on this trip was my mom, my dad, and my sister. A couple months after this trip, I was on an airplane once again, but this time it wasn’t for a vacation. I was going to leave, what I call my home, the Philippines. In the Philippines, everyone believes that if one works or lives abroad, they can give them the title of “rich.” They think that life is easy and you don't have to work as hard. That is definitely not true. When I left, not only did I leave my house or my friends, I also was leaving my grandma behind.
Fourteen years ago was the last time I saw my grandma in person. Till this day, she continues to be a strong woman, physically and emotionally. One by one her children had left her roof to start their own life. My grandma wanted to live her dreams through me. Every time I visited her, she mentioned moving out of the Philippines. To her, this was the start of a new and better life.
I remember one hot sunny day in Taguig, Philippines, I was out with my grandma eating ube ice cream. As we talked for a while, an airplane gently flies right above us. I still remember the exact words that my grandma told me in our mother tongue: “once you ride an airplane like that to the United States, your life will become so much better. There are a lot of opportunities waiting for you.” To the four year old me, I thought my life was good enough.
From then on, airplanes help me feel motivated and relaxed. They simply remind me of my grandma’s words. If I lack the motivation to do something, I remember, my grandma wants me to do well so I must at least try. Airplanes make me feel at peace. Whenever I see one, I feel that my grandma is watching me, pushing me to do well.
These fourteen years without my grandma by my side did pass by fast. I will make sure to see her again. I wish that I could ride an airplane back to the Philippines to see her. An airplane would be the only way to bring us close to each other. I remind myself that I rode that plane for a better life, as my grandma would say. This motivates me to do well in school. I have to make my grandma’s words come true. If she is able to take a plane to fly here, I would be very happy. I believe in airplanes because the next time I go on one, it will be a trip back to my grandma and I can finally tell her that i'm doing just fine.