By Alexandra Dalton
Staff Writer
Last week I was scrolling through Twitter after school, when I stopped on a picture of Buddha. Attached to the photo was a quote saying that you do not change, only become who you were always meant to be. I am not particularly religious, but I found myself connecting with this saying.
When I was younger, my father used to lecture me about every single thing that I did wrong, and still does does today, but I recall one time in particular not coloring in my American buffalo poster in second grade and my father went on a hour long rant about how this would lead to my employment at McDonald’s.
This was the start of my philosophy that people cannot ever change, only become who they were always meant to be. I believe that my father is a kind and generous man, but even as I gain a college degree, I think he will still be lecturing me on how my tangled hair will make my college take my credits back.
The term “people can change” is mostly for people with too much hope and not enough knowledge on how human nature operates. People always revert back to their familiar ways, and will rarely, if at all, make an attempt to correct their bad habits. At least, this is what I have experienced.
As a child, I thought that my dad might change. Some day he might become the type of person to let things go every once and a while. But as I grew and the lectures were still constant, I began to realize that my hope for more of an average dad was unrealistic.
My father’s flaws are not serious like alcoholism or gambling, but his unrelenting comments are sometimes as addictive to him as other vices. I could have had parents with serious issues and I am extremely glad that I do not, but I cannot deny that my father will never change.
It is great to believe that people can change, and if that optimism fuels you, then so be it. But I have consistently been provided evidence that represented otherwise. I wish that was not the case and that I could be still filled with faith, but what can I say, I am not the religious type.
