Chance Dellard Ahlstrom 1

Professor Zicherman
9/2/14

Great Literary Grandparents

I often stop and think about the people that have influenced me over my lifetime, although I
havent been alive very long; I fail to realize sometimes that you are influenced by a multitude of
things that happen every day. My Great Grandparents were these examples that ironically ties
into literature.
When I think of my Great Grandmother I remember the countless times I spent the
weekend with her and my Great Grandfather. They were both pretty laid back people and very
high spirited all the time, unless you said, yall or aint or didnt use the proper there, their or
theyre. My Great Grandfather was a principle for over 30 years while my Great Grandmother
was an English teacher and English Major. When I say that I spent my weekends with them I
really spent the weekends learning how bad I was at English, how terrible my writing was, and
that I do not use the proper vocabulary as well as my cursive being atrocious. Being over at their
house was always fun, but when I couldnt spell a word or didnt use proper grammar I had to go
get the dictionary and learn how to spell or say the word in its proper context. This happened
everyday, as I never really had a great since of what word to use in the moment. Often I had to
write the word in cursive; again my Great Grandmother is an English major and teacher, so
unless the word was perfect I couldnt leave the table until I got it right. We often played games
related to English or something that had a lesson within it; their favorite two games were Wheel
of Fortune and Jeopardy. We would sit around the dinner table enjoying dinner as well as
watching Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, which ever was on at the time, and guess or say the
answer to the puzzles or questions, often my Great Grandfather would answer them before I
could even read or hear the question.

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Professor Zicherman
9/2/14
Nothing done at their house was ever a waste of time, my Great Grandfather was brilliant as in
his free time, which was all day every day since he was retired, went to his study and read books.
He would read 3 or 4 novels a day, he studied and read books constantly, even finishing the harry
potter series in 4 day. Needless to say I was right there with him reading along about World
War I, the president, or something that was informational and not just entertainment. My
favorite book that we read together before he passed away from a stroke was probably The Last
Lecture. Even though I read it almost six years ago at the age of thirteen, he made sure I knew
the heartfelt meaning behind the book. He wanted to instill in me the life lessons that Randy had
picked up on during his short time on earth. A very loving and caring person he was, and those
that he taught still come by the house to say, hi, to my Great Grandmother.
Both of my Great Grandparents were very influential in the area of literature because of
their past jobs as well as what they enjoyed. When I learned of my Great Grandmother getting a
computer I thought to myself, finally I can help her with something instead of her giving me help
and lessons all the time. So I helped her set up the computer and showed her how to use the
internet, which was probably a bad idea in the long run since she sends me videos and
information all the time via email. She is my only Great Grandmother though so I enjoy the
emails I get in perfect grammar often with a new lesson or book that I should read. She often
asks me how my English classes are going and how I like school each year and what my grades
are as well as how I can come to her for any English help. The emailing came in handy as I soon
would need it when I entered my junior year of high school and on into my senior year. When I
came to her with my senior project paper for English IV she took it and a red pen and told me to
come back in two days to pick it up and we could revise it together. I came back two days later
and came to find that she had used three red ink pens and made pages of notes to match each

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Professor Zicherman
9/2/14
page that I had written. She probably wrote more than I did in two days than I had in my four
years of high school, pages upon pages of notes for each page asking me why I was writing this
and where my information was coming from and where did all of this happen and so on and so
forth. I came to her later that day and asked how she first had time to write all of this as well as
what I could do to fix this. She simply said start over and really read my notes and really think
about what you are trying to say and how youre trying to get the information in your head to the
paper. I came back two days later with my paper, now originally my paper was about four and a
half pages long, it was now a staggering eleven pages long. She took it and said, I am
impressed, she read the first page and gave it back to me when she had finished, she turned and
walked away and said nothing. I followed her to the kitchen and asked if it was good or bad and
what I needed to improve and she turned around and said with a lump in her throat,

its beautiful, the way you described the first influential person in your life was perfect, the
grammar and vocabulary you used was flawless. I couldnt be more proud of you and what you
have just accomplished.
I fallowed up, do you really mean that?
Sniffling she spoke, yes, I really and truly mean that. Chance this is simply beautiful what you
have written. I am so proud of you!
We returned to the living room and sat there talking about what grade we think I will receive and
what my teachers will think of this paper. I gave her a big hug with a sigh of relief as I had
thought she was going to tell me that she didnt like the material and I would have had to start
over for a second time. Thankfully I had listened to everything that she had said and written
down on the notes attached to my paper and implemented it into the story as she said to. She

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Professor Zicherman
9/2/14
didnt just help me get an, A, she helped me realize that I can write this kind of material all the
time with a little practice and some good guidance. I was reminded on that day that I was truly
blessed to have family that cared so much for me and to see me succeed in life and not just on an
assignment.
The paper was titled, People Of My Life, it was my sort of way to say thank you to all of
those that had helped me grow and become the man I am today. I am still growing up a little here
and there as I travel along this journey of life and I couldnt thank the people within that paper
enough on helping me along this twisty pathway. The first two people in the paper were my
Mother and Father as they have instilled in me the ideals that I have today followed by my older
Brother whom constantly reminds me that he is there for me no matter what happens along the
way and then my Great Grandmother and Grandfather for all that they had taught me in the many
years spent at their house. My Great Grandfather unfortunately never got to read my paper as I
said before he passed away in 2009 from a stroke, but from what my Great Grandmother said he
would have loved it.

She went on to say, He would have been so proud of you chance, you meant so much to him
and for you to include him in something that youve worked on so hard would have meant the
world to him.

She went to the extent of taking the paper, had a copy made for her, and laminated to have as a
keepsake and a reminder. I received a one hundred on the paper and it is used through out the
school, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade as an example of how a paper should be written.

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Professor Zicherman
9/2/14
I honestly could not imagine where I would be today without these two very special
people in my life. They have both influenced me in the literary world since I could read and
write and I am grateful to call them not only my Great Grandparents but also my teachers. My
Great Grandfather often said, Each day is a gift that contains a new lesson that offers us incite
to the world. This statement stays true to this day and I carry it around in my heart ready to
learn something new each day and thrive in his memory.

Professor Zichermans Feedback:

I like the changes you made. However, your story still isnt focused enough. Go back and look at my feedback
on the first draft. You need to focus on one person and one moment. Some kind of conversation should occur
between your and your sponsor in which his/her influence on you is clear. Also, youre still missing in-themoment action. Dont tell the reader what happened. Let it unfold through description, dialogue, and action.