Biography, Term Paper Example

This biography is regarding someone who I have known for quite some time, a man who we will call Dave.  During the interview Dave walked me through his childhood into where he is now, reciting some of his most memorable points that he remembers.  Over the interview he expressed the joys of his life with such passion.

Childhood

Dave was born into a middle-class family with a couple of siblings.  Although he says that his parents said that he was quite outgoing at an early age, he has developed into someone shyer over the course of his life.  At any rate, Dave expressed that although his childhood was not particularly bad, not too many overtly positive ones remained.

He characterized his early relationship with his family as quite neutral.  His parents were together, which was not common for the area in which he grew up.  Many of his friends’ parents were either separated or divorced.  Although Dave was thankful that his parents had a good relationship with each other, he made the point to say that he always wish he had a better relationship with them.

As a child David was playful with his siblings.  He and his siblings engaged in what he deemed “typical fights,” which were common for him. They teased and ridiculed each other, enjoying playing with each other and their friends.

David’s friends at an earlier age were difficult to come by.  He was quite active in playing outside, where he particularly enjoyed playing sports with other friends, but his family moved a few times when he was younger.  Regretfully, David expressed that this made it difficult to find friends, where he found himself missing those who were left behind where they lived previously.  At any rate, David was fond of playing sports and engaging in games with friends, although he had to move a few times away from them.

Adolescence

David grew into this period, finding tendencies which were more suitable to his current personality.  For instance, as previously expressed, David was known to be quite outgoing as he was younger.  However, this is not the case now, and David pointed to this time in his life when things in this changed.

One family vacation marked this dynamic for David.  He remembered a family vacation that was taken, where David did not have a particularly exciting time.  David pointed to his personality changing into something quieter, where adventure wasn’t that exciting for him anymore, as the vacation was at an amusement park.

David pointed to events like these to mark what he called an “uneventful” childhood.  As it extended into these years, they were marked by solemn periods of time, with few exciting memories.  David grew up and became more and more quiet and shy, which would extend into later years in his life.

David however continued enjoying particular activities.  His love of baseball grew very much, as his father taught him about the game.  They even went to see a few games, which sparked a love that David would not let go of, to this very day.

In school David mentioned that he was a rather average student.  Though very smart, he said there was nothing there to really drive him, until later in his life when he realized how important his education was.  Often a dreamer, he told me that he often spent days at school in his own world.

High School

David was not particularly fond of high school.  He told me that “you either love it or you hate it, and I hated it.”  Enjoying a closer environment, David’s larger high school was not exactly what he had in mind.  He didn’t really know what to expect in this transition in school, which formed a few negative aspects for him.

David made a reference to something that I was very familiar with, in regards to cliques.  This was one point which clearly did not account for any generation gap, as David expressed negative sentiments regarding social status.  He noted the ways in which more popular individuals carried themselves, which was something that David did not find attractive in his days in high school.

Perhaps at the peak of David’s shyness, he expressed the way he “got through” his high school days.  Relative to his personality, he expressed that he had a few very good friends at his high school that he was very close to.  They would have quite a few classes together, eat lunch with each other, and hang out outside of school.  David would point his socialization to his group of close friends in these years.

Academically David would do what he needed to to get by.  A very smart man, David would do homework on an as-needed, basis, as he described.  He would use shortcuts to get through his work, skimming information in order to get the work done so he didn’t have to worry about it.  As a B and C student, he expressed, he knew he could have done much better had he applied himself to the work.

College

Early in his college years, David chose to stay at home and go to a two-year college before deciding what to do next.  Not knowing exactly where to go in terms of a career, he chose to play it safe at this type of academic environment.  He said this gave him some time to think about what he wanted to do.

Outside of school, he followed his love of baseball quite closely.  An avid Yankees fan, he remembered listening and watching the games of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, who dominated the early half of the 1960s.  David said he loved spending nights listening to the games and enjoying the sports environment in this era, which was filled with so much talent in America’s pastime.

In this period David’s life became much more focused.  One of the biggest transformations happened in his walk with God.  Although he always thought of himself as a Christian, he matured in this manner and became much closer to God.  He began reading theology and his Bible, and began applying himself into church.  David said that this was perhaps the most important time in his life, in regards to his faith and his spiritual walk with God.

This immediately played a role in his future plans.  Reading Christian theology and philosophy, David decided that he wanted to teach these subjects at the college level.  His studies at the community college level allowed him to take some introductory classes as well, where he increased his attention towards schooling.

After finishing at the initial institution, David found a four-year college to finish his degree.  He decided to stay close to home.  David said that he never found anything interesting in going off to college, where he preferred having his own space, and never was much for the party scene that some colleges were known.

The transition was smooth for David.  He noted that it wasn’t that difficult to apply himself to his work, versus previous years in school.  He really felt that school became meaningful for him at this time.

David also began working for a local bookstore at the time, while in college.  He felt this was a good part-time job to have while he was in school, as he enjoyed this kind of environment.  David loved being around books and helping people find their way in their interests, making recommendations to customers.

David finished college with a degree in theology.  He expressed that these years were filled in preparation for his career, while trying to make some money on the side.  Deciding on teaching for a living, he worked hard to find a way into graduate school, to which he was successful.

Graduate School

David wanted to stay at his current institution to obtain his Master’s degree in theology, so he could teach aspects of the subject that changed his life.  Still comfortable with living at home, David decided this was best for his studies.  He also realized how much money he was saving by staying at home for his graduate years, to which he was thankful for doing for his own good financially.

David described his career choice based off of his own experiences.  David said that he wanted to be present in young students’ lives like he had the opportunity to learn from in his community college days.  When he was curious in Christian philosophy and theology, David said, he had classes that really opened his eyes and drew him closer.  He again said that this was the most important time in his life spiritually, both in an academic and personal manner.  David wanted to be able to have the same effect as in his early college days, as he knew he would have the opportunity in teaching.

Other than in his studies, David continued in the bookstore and spending time with friends.  He continued to watch baseball games whenever possible, never relinquishing his love of the game.  Overall, he found contentment in his work, school, and private life, which were very steady in this time.

Within this time frame, David would meet Heather at his school.  He and Heather began dating while they were both in graduate school, where they both met.  David expressed their relationship as nothing less than being “soul mates.”

After Graduation

The time after graduation was found in that of job hunting.  Continuing full-time at the bookstore for some time, David eventually found a teaching position at a local college.  He wanted to stay in the community to be near Heather and his family and friends.

After a couple of years David told me about the engagement and wedding.  They both wanted to have a small wedding, as two former graduate students who had accumulated some debt.  “It was the best day of my life,” David told me, as he reminisced about the moments of the wedding.  He told me all the details, from the colors of the dresses to his young niece as the flower girl.

As David and his wife began in their careers and marriage, they began looking for a house in the area.  David wanted to stay in the area for the rest of his life, and they began looking for their dream home.  They didn’t want anything too big; just something where their children could grow up in, for the most part.

In time they found their dream home.  It was within a half hour of both of their families, which was important.  David was so excited to finally have a place of their own.

Children

David recapped the next decade or two of this life.  In this time, he expressed so much joy with regards to the two children the he and Heather raised.  Enjoying being a father to his two children, David proudly talked on forever about his children, so thankful and happy to have them in his life.

Comically David recapped the beginning years of fatherhood.  Unknown to him was raising a child.  He didn’t exactly have much experience in this area of life, as he expressed.  David then clarified, “Not much meant not at all, actually.”

The time was scary for him at the time of becoming a father.  When this occurred he often relied on his parents and Heather to help him learn the ropes of how to take care of children.  He expressed the stress that it caused for him, fearing that he was not going to be a good father for his children.  However, over time he became much more comfortable in doing the things that he didn’t know how to do.

One of the hardest points for David was balancing work and home life.  He was a full time teacher and a full time father and husband, he told me. He described to me how it is a type of cliché today, to speak of being a parent as a full time job.  However, he told me, “it is very true.”

David expressed the joys of being a father.  He recapped the years of his children growing up, certainly to an extent not allowable in this biography.  At any rate, he made it clear how much his children meant to him.  He truly found meaning in his family life and in his work, which were inextricably linked.  He told me how the subject matter he taught (theology) helped him in his family life, and vice-versa.

Parents

About ten years ago David told me of the toughest part of his life, with the passing of his parents.  They both passed away within a few years of each other, which affected his family greatly.  He said it was extremely painful to deal with in his life.

Attending his parents’ funerals was incredibly difficult for David, as anyone could imagine.  All of his family attended the funerals during this period, trying to be there for David’s family.  Yet it remained incredibly difficult for him to deal with at the time, due to the shock of all this happening.

David believed that a lot of it had to do with his relationship with his parents.  While they were somewhat close, it was never to the point where David felt truly comfortable.  David really wanted to have that close relationship that everybody wants at some point in his life, as he described.  David felt that this came as a bit of a surprise to him, as he believed he always had time to improve his relationship with his parents.

David also was hurt from the pain that he felt from his family.  Seeing his wife and children react emotionally was extremely difficult for David.  He expressed the pain that he felt simply by reaction.  Overall, this time was extremely difficult for David and his family, as well as others in the family.

Present Day

Today David expresses how much joy he has in his life.  He reinforces to be how blessed he is to have a wonderful family.  He and Heather still enjoy time together and the presence of friends and family.  They are now both currently retired, which did not happen too long ago, where they enjoy the “small things in life,” as David puts it.

David continues to be active in the community, near where he grew up as a child.  He truly loves the atmosphere and the people.  He loves how he has everything that he needs within reach, but without the congestion of larger cities.  It also means a lot for him to still live in a place near where he used to live as a child.

David also continues to follow sports passionately.  Especially in that of baseball, where David described his love of the Yankees to me several times.  He let me know how happy he is to have seen so many Hall of Famers on one time, of his beloved Yankees.

Although he is retired, David loves to volunteer at his local church.  He and Heather have been members there for decades, quite literally, and they are both active in a number of pursuits there.  They enjoy reaching out within the community and in the church.

Grandchildren

With pride David told me a great deal about his grandchildren.  He and Heather have three grandchildren from their two children, to which they are close.  They are very active in spending time with two of them, although the other has moved quite a ways away, whom they only get to see a few times a year.

Excitingly David recaps what it is like to be a grandfather.  It brings him back to the days of being a father, as there are new children in his family that he can help take care of.  There is also another way that it bring him back to the days of being a father, as David notes.  Seeing the pressure of his son in being a new father, David remembers what it feels like to be in his position.

This dynamic has allowed David to be active in his son’s life.  He has been able to teach him a little bit about being a father.  They have gotten to go to some baseball games with the kids as well.

In these dynamics David expressed how meaningful it is to have a chance to make things better in his family.  Although David did not have a bad relationship with his parents, he wants that close bond with his children and grandchildren as he did towards his parents.  With pride in his eyes, he was excited to tell me about how he believes he has reached this personal goal in his life.

Ending the interview, David expressed that he was thankful for everything that had happened in his life.  He expressed how God put him through good and bad times and gave him a wonderful family to experience life with.  It was apparent with regards to the happiness in David’s eyes throughout the interview.