The Place Where I Was Born by Alice Walker

The essay written by Alice walker entitled “The Place Where I Was Born” made me realize about things that happened in the past. The Nostalgic experience of the character is somehow similar to what I went through after transferring from one place to another. Letting go is really hard but this is what makes us grow as individuals. People come and go but memories will last forever.

The difficulties of life are intended to make us better not bitter. From the essay I suddenly feel incomplete because of something that I have lost from the past. Growing up in a place where you came to know more friends made me sleep every night with a smile on my face. I am always looking forward for the next day to play with then during noon at the nearby park of our village.

Not until the day that my father told me that we need to relocate because of his job. I was sadden by the news and what I did is run towards my childhood friend’s house and knock repetitively. Upon seeing her opening the door I tightly embraced her and cried on her shoulder. I told her about the bad news and we end up crying together. It was a heart breaking scene when it was time for us to leave. But then letters and phone calls were made promised by me and her to continue the bond of our friendship.

Being nostalgic on my past, I also remember the old rock in the park where me and my friends used to play. I can compare that rock to myself being a strong and tough individual. But then that rock also serves as my source of strength because whenever I end up being scolded by my parents, I run towards that rock and cry. I end up pushing that rock and putting all my sentiments into it. It was my comfort zone until the day it was removed by the park authorities to set up new sets of playground equipment. I am really disappointed upon loosing the rock out of my sight. I went home and locked up inside my room and burst tears of sadness. It was a secret untold even to my family because I know they will laugh at me about my longing for that rock.

Now that I am grown up, my quest for answers are still at hand. There is nothing permanent on earth except change. In order for us to grow we need to meet people and go to different places. At the end of the day the ones we should remember are the happiness imparted by the person and not the sad separation that occurred.