ERP (Question 1A)

Only after that day did I truly know the meaning of maturity and growing independent. I was fourteen then, born with a silver spoon, I was playful and took things for granted. I had this mindset of money being able to get you anything and that included independence.

After my fourteenth birthday, I realized that I should be independent and no longer depend solely on my parents. You may think that is the right thinking but that is wrong. My definition at that time was to go out on my own, no longer staying at home with my parents. I did not want to depend on them except for my source of money. I started loitering in arcade centers after school and my need for money grew tremendously.

I also thought with this source for money, I will get more popular and that is a part of growing independent. I thought they were true friends, but at that time, they were just eyeing my money. But I did not care at that time. All I wanted was fun and popularity, money was not a problem. My grades started deterioting like stock markets during economic downturn, but that did not affect me. My parents were worried about me, but they could not bear to cut my pocket money as I was their only child.

Only after that incident, I finally grew up. I could still remember clearly that series of events. It was just like any other day. I was again loitering in the gamin center with my so called group of friends. Just then, my phone started ringing. I was in the middle of a heated battle and I ignored it. However, the ringing continued and that started to get on my nerves. I looked and realized it was my mother calling. My friends asked me to turn my phone off. I switched it off, thinking nothing would happen to my mother. Little did I know I was wrong.

After finishing my gaming, I returned home. All looked normal as I opened the door. Only after stepping into the kitchen did I receive my greatest shock. My mother was lying on the floor, groaning in pain. I started to panic and called both my father and the ambulance. Within minutes, my mother was sent to the hospital. She was diagnosed with having a serious disease and may not be able to survive.

I started to regret my actions that I was not around just when my mother needed me. Not only did I learnt that money cannot buy good health, I learnt that growing independent does not mean getting out of your parents’ reach. I promised to be a filial son if my mother recovers and I will not mix with my “group of friends”.

Days past and still my mother’s condition did not get better. My father quitted his job to look after my mother. Lucky for us, my mother’s condition took a turn for the better. After that incident, I became a filial boy. Even though we were not as rich as we used to be, we led a peaceful like. I returned home after school everyday to look after my mother.

I finally learnt that true meaning of growing up. To be independent was not to depend on my parents but to look after them and not to get so much from them, rather to get them ourselves. I also learnt that true friends are not made from money and the best of friends will help you in times of need. Most importantly, I learnt that being filial was a part of growing up.