College Essay - Jocelynn Black

When I think of a man, I think of a man who has been there my whole entire life. A Sensitive man , a strong man, and a man who has love me unconditionally despite all my faults. That man would have to be James Russel Black, the only man in my life, my handsome father. The man who has had such a significant influence on me. Whenever I talk or even think about my father it brings tears of joy to my eyes, and a smile to my face.
He didn’t come from a lot, and he had a lot of issues with himself. He dropped out of high school, and ever since he has had to make ends meet. However, he did everything he could for me and made my life as easy as he could for me. He gave me unconditional love whether it was needed or not. He had a significant impact on my life because when he tried to explain things to me he didn’t yell. My mother could go on for days yelling at me trying to get something into my head, where as my father simply sat me down and talked to me in the gentlest tone. He told me things about boys, and about being a classy lady. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be as good as a student as I am now, because he explained things to me from a male perspective, which is what every daughter needs from their father. Every night before I went to sleep he used to read to me, whether he could barely keep his eyes open from a long night at work or not. I can always see the pain in his eyes, but he always covers them with a smile.
In October of 2010, my father was brutally attacked by a police officer and a k-9. He suffered a massive stroke, and had many surgeries and part of his skull taken out. As many people would probably fight back, he laid there and took it because he knew the consequences it would cause, and he wanted to set a good example for his children. Even while being dragged in the street by a k-9 he still thought about us. After all the surgeries, and seizures, and strokes he still maintains to smile and keep good spirits. He wishes no harm amongst the police officer or the k-9 and still has a big heart. My father has taught me that no matter what life throws at you, to still have a big heart and keep smiling. Life is too short to walk around miserable. You may think you have it bad, but somebody else has it worse than you.