Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking.
When there are clouds in the sky
you'll get by.
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through
For you.
Light up your face with gladness,
Hide every trace of sadness.
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying.
You'll find that life is still worthwhile-
If you just smile.
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying.
You'll find that life is still worthwhile-
If you just smile.
Why I chose this song...
I chose the song, "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin. I chose this song to present my identity because through all the bad times I kept a happy face on. Starting from when I was 11, my paternal grandmother died in India, and it came as a big shock as it was unexpected. A year later, in 2008, we were hearing on the news about the economy plummeting, and that same day my dad lost his job. For two years he was jobless, and everyday it was stressful worrying about how we were going to survive through it all. The following year, in 2009, my aunt caught meningitis and died about three weeks later. Three days after her death, her son/my cousin committed suicide jumping out of the third floor of a hotel in India. Two months following that, in December, my maternal grandmother had broken her hip. We immediately rushed there to see her. In preparation for her surgery, they located a spot on her lung which we later found out was cancer. Since I was still in school, we had to return home. Upon arrival, about a week later we found out that my uncle had suffered a heart attack in which he passed away. My dad had to immediately rush to India to prepare the funeral. Since my dad was still unemployed, we had to stay behind. He was gone for a month. By this time, I was unable to concentrate on my school work, and I began to fall behind. Later on at the end of May in 2010, we had left to see my maternal grandmother, as she took a turn for the worst. Three weeks after we arrived, the hospital diagnosed her with terminal stage cancer and she passed away two weeks after the diagnosis. During that time, it was really hectic. We had to prepare for a funeral, and my grades went down further to the point my school wanted to expel me instead of helping me get through these times. At that point, I felt that the drama was so unbelievable and unreal. For two years, I felt depressed and unable to pick myself up. I would smile, but it felt fake, but I had to keep going, because sooner or later things had to get better. Although I am doing a lot better, at times things still happen which bring up the memories from the past, but I know if I smile and keep a positive attitude, I will be okay knowing that I've dealt with much worse.