Jonathan Valencia
March 13, 2016
ENG 1121- D465
2nd draft of Personal Narrative essay
The Golden Name
“When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is,” Oscar Wilde said. Being discriminated against, isolated, and hated for doing something good for yourself is toughest for a young person to take in by himself alone. There will always be that one person who supports you for who you are and be looks out for you. If the people who surround you forget what your name is and give you a terrible name to remember you by, it leaves a stain of dark memories. For some, money is an addiction and they get consumed by it, but for me it was joy and hard work. Golden Boy, the name that stands above the rest, would involve my older brother, money, and hate I received by the people around me.
Some may wonder how the name, Golden Boy got my older brother Diachi involved. Actually the name is related to both of us, and at some point in time during our childhood, it was given to us. Diachi told me there would be a time I would be given a specific name that I would come to hate. It was Golden Boy. Diachi and I have a good relationship that started even before and endured after the name was given to me. The reason golden boy is related to Diachi and I was because of us both dealing with money. Diachi taught me an important thing that always kept him happy during the hard times he encounter in life. He told me “they will always try to find away to bring you down but at the end of the day just kept smiling at them.” This would cause some of the people who were around me most to show me no respect, as they saw me following in my older brother’s footsteps of making money easily rather than working for it.
Golden Boy often confuses some as they wonder if I was always dealing with gold, but in my case I was dealing with money. Money for me was an important resource for I when I was young, and up until this point it still is, but not as much. Money isn’t easy to acquire for someone who is young, but for me it was, as Diachi taught me how to resell. At a young age he taught me how to resell and showed me ways then how to my own money by simply buying items such as clothes, sneakers and reselling with them customers who were willing to pay more than what the product actually costs in stores. I will always be thinking of more ways to make a bigger income, so I would be leaving or not even showing up to school just to buy and sell more, but it was always for good reasons, family, and money.
The awful name Golden Boy always involves the people who hate and disrespect me for a long time. Once named, I was always treated differently by family, neighbors, and classmates due to the fact I achieved things they wish they had at a very young age. I will be look down at due to some saying the things I do are illegal and I should be put away forever. Rumors were said behind my back, and it was sometimes depressing hearing them but it didn’t stop me from making more money. Discriminated, insulted, and excluded from parties and activities sometimes made me upset but at the end of every day I was smiling just like my brother told me.
Golden Boy the name that stands above the rest involved my older brother, money, and hate I would receive by the people around me. Bringing my older brother Daiachi closer through the hardship we endure during our childhood. Not worrying about food, clothes, bills, etc. but rather taking life easier. Ignoring what other said or thinks about you but rather smiling for a bright future. A world where people are not discriminated but highly cared and respected for their hard work and dedication.
