The Most Important Person in My Life - by Christopher Johnson

 Naming a particular individual as the most important person in one’s life can be difficult for many, yet for me this is a simple task. Jessie May Johnson, my grandmother wins the award in my mind. Born in Piza, Italy in 1946, my grandmother traveled here on a ship with her parents and small siblings decades ago in an attempt to secure a life in America that would afford them and continued generations a chance at a great life. As a person my grandmother is the essence of kindness, strength, love, and devotion, mixed with stubbornness, an opinionated mind, and a lack of adventure. She enjoys the feeling of comfort and usually relaxes with a pony tail, equipped with a book to fill the time. Grandma, as she’s affectionately known to her grandkids is selfless with a big heart.

            What makes my grandmother the woman she is, is her devotion to her family. She worked in a factory for a short period of time to later stop working in order to take care of her siblings, children, and grandchildren. She’s always willing to give everything she has to ensure others are okay. For example, if one of her siblings, kids, or grandkids are in need of a place to stay, a small amount of money, or just some advice, she is there, although it kills her inside sometime to do so. She has the heart of a thousand people.

             My grandmother is strong a woman. You can call her a superhero, because she takes on that role as a grandparent, mother, and sister. She Sets guidelines like there’s nothing she can’t do, like batman, the superhero with no powers, as if she is untouchable and can’t be harmed. She is loving at all time regardless of the situation, she is devoted, devoted to a life of kindness, understanding, and selflessness. Because of all her great characteristics, she took my siblings and I in order to keep us from going into foster care and looked after us as we turned into young adults. She is what keeps me going when all else fails.

            Although she can very much be stubborn, and set in her old ways, she is the light in our lives. She is also the type of person who limits herself. She lacks a sense of self adventure and goes nowhere. She stays in the house all day, everyday unless she needs to go to the doctor. Her adventures are usually to the window to look and see what’s going on outside on our block. She is also very opinionated, and goes with whatever someone tells her. For example, you can tell her the world is going to blow up, and she’ll call everyone and let them know what she has just found out. She’ll argue you down and stick with her story, then she’ll tell you off and apologize for it later. She gets on your nerve’s, but you got to love her for that.

            My grandmother, is a 5ft. 4in. woman who is the light in the family, the glue of all of our needs, the hope, and love that guides us along the way. She is important to me because she did a lot to make sure we lived the best life we can. She gave up a lot to take on the responsibility of an adult at the age of 15. My grandmother is the essence of kindness, strength, love, and devotion with all hands down.


Immigrants Arriving at Ellis Island