Kenon, our youngest living son, wrote the following essay his senior year in high school as part of his application to Gonzaga University. He made me very proud.
My community could use an introduction. If I could introduce my community to my role model, I definitely would. My role model is not older than I; in fact, he was five years younger than I. My role model is my younger brother, Colin. Born in 1984, he was diagnosed as having a rare syndrome called Trisomy 13. The syndrome included such symptoms as congenital heart problems, respiratory problems, mental retardation, and a short life span. So why would my younger brother who was born a special child make an impact on my community? Because he was just that, special. Colin is my role model and would be wonderful for any community to see because he overlooked all of his own disabilities, loved life, and enjoyed every moment it had to offer.
Sometimes when I feel down about a bad grade, a long day, or a cumbersome chore, I think of Colin. I think of how relatively minute my problems are in comparison to Colin’s. Then I think of his smile that was so wide and nearly always present on his chubby, cherubic face and realize that my problems are not worthy of such anxiety and complaint. Why should I feel glum and in turn disrespect my parents, a teacher, or a friend over such a petty problem when Colin was always happy despite his life threatening ordeals? At times, I imagine Colin asking me such a question, and it always seems to change my mood.
I believe that my feelings about Colin and all he has taught me are shared by many others. I believe that Colin impacted the outlook of anyone he ever touched. From family to friends, teachers to strangers, and old ones to young ones, Colin provided an example of courage and integrity. I strongly feel that with every person he impacted, the world became a better place in which to live. I only wish I could bring Colin back and let him do his redemptive work on more members of my community.
Although Colin died in the summer of 1991 at the age of six, I believe his influence lives in the many hearts that he touched, and I know that his life has had a profound impact upon me and upon my self. Life is short and should be enjoyed, or it is meaningless. I believe that if Colin could ever have talked, he would have said something of that nature. And although he never did talk, he did communicate through his actions, and I believe that he portrayed such a message. And that, I will never forget.
Kenon has always been a good writer. In the Fall of 1989, shortly after he turned ten, he entered a national essay contest, sponsored by Hebrew National Hot Dogs and National Foods. That next summer, he was named the national winner out of thousands of entrants. The topic, by the way, was "How will a higher education make me a higher authority?" The grand prize was $10,000!
A higher education will make me a higher authority because now I don’t have any authority at all. Sometimes, when Dad says, "no," and I argue, he says, "I’m the authority around here," or "you don’t know what you’re talking about," or "you’ll understand when you’re older." I guess someday I’ll know what I’m talking about, and I’ll understand, and then I’ll be an authority. Also, Mom sometimes says, "you don’t have the authority to do that." Authority must mean power. College will give me knowledge, and knowledge is power, and power brings authority, and so college will make me a higher authority. all right!
A higher education will make me a higher authority because now I have no authority, am not an authority on any subject, but my parents have authority over me and are both considered authorities in some areas. They are not necessarily brighter than I am; they have stronger credentials because of age, experience and, principally, education. Higher education will make me an expert in some field someday, and that expertise will give me authority and, more importantly, will make me an authority in some subject area. Then people will more readily listen to me because I will be labeled an "authority." I will then make the world a better place.
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