Payback: A Moving Narrative About Overcoming Challenges and Inspiring Others
Payback is a moving narrative about an immigrant child who wants to inspire others by sharing his experience. The storyteller is a bilingual person who speaks both English and Spanish with ease. He wrote this essay in part to pay tribute to his parents and to inspire young people who feel pressured to make difficult choices despite their age. He counsels youth to get masses of advice before making decisions about various issues because they might not have a clear picture of their future. Also, they need experienced individuals to guide them through all their steps and ensure that they come out as responsible individuals in the society. He firmly believes that anyone can overcome life’s challenges and turn out responsible members of the society.
Fame, Money, and the Loss of Integrity
In the world today, fame and money have enslaved people tremendously as people are willing to do anything disregarding their integrity, just to be at the top. As such, most youths feel obliged to live luxurious lives just to keep up with the trends (Sorto, Erik, and William Wallis, p.3). Most end up finding themselves in criminal gangs or even among drug barons. Integrity is now long forgotten as people strive to show others that they have made it in life, knowing well them compromise on their morals. Immorality and injustice have become the order of the day. The author shows remorse for individuals with such lifestyles, as he also led a similar life (Sorto, Erik, and William Wallis, p.60). Nonetheless, he wants his life to act as a reflection to youths in gangs and those looking forward to joining gangs.
A Mother's Unconditional Love and Guidance
Despite all the crazy things he did, his mother never left his side. He kept on encouraging him and advising him to abandon the gang life. He is incredibly grateful to his mother as he always tried to guide him to do the right and never deserted him. Whenever children choose the thug life, their parents and families usually abandon them claiming that they chose to follow the grave rather than have meaningful lives. Were it not for his mother, he would be long gone, just like his father and friends. Although he has quadriplegia, he is very grateful to have a second chance to live a better life and share his story with young people.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Gratitude
He shares his routine with readers so that people as a form of encouragement. Being a person with quadriplegia may have come as a blessing and a curse to him. He views it as a curse for all the wrongs he did during his early years. It is also a blessing in that he got to experience life from another perspective that he had not planned. Nonetheless, he finds it quite easy to navigate and carry out his daily activities as he has full support from his mother. He tries to overlook the challenges he faces as he is just grateful to be alive. Also, he shares his daily schedule, from the time he wakes up till the time he goes to bed. Despite all the challenges, he was able to go back to school and accomplish the goals he had set earlier in life (Sorto, Erik, and William Wallis, p.24). He managed to go back to school as he had planned initially.
A Second Chance and Words of Warning
He particularly considers himself a lucky individual are given that he has machines that enable him to ease his daily navigation. His mother only assists him with a few tasks that must be completed by humans. He gives a stern warning to youths to make decisions appropriately as they may not get a second chance in life as he did. He hopes that people would heed his life story and use it as an example to make their lives better.
Works Cited
Sorto, Erik, and William Wallis. Payback. Beverly Hills, Calif., Lone Wolf Editions, 2008.
