Summary Of The Undercurrent By Kelellie Young

Rough Draft of Essay One

In Kellie Young’s “The Undercurrent”, Young imparts a tale about her mother and how her mother’s actions and words influenced her life. The passage’s purpose is to provide a story that has a deeper meaning of displaying the effects of a person’s lifetime. Every being acquires qualities and characteristics he or she observes from other people. The people from which the traits are obtained, become prominent influences in another’s life. Whether the effects are positive or negative, Young explains the importance of recognizing the person whom an individual aspires to become. Similar to Young, my strongest influence is my mother. The comparison between my mother and Young’s shows that Young has created a relatable

paper about influential individuals in a person’s lifetime which makes for easy affiliation for all audiences.

Young’s mother is such a powerful influence in her life and has changed her mindset to think more carefully.

Her mother did not always live on the beautiful island of Hawaii. When Young’s mother was younger, she migrated from China to the United States and was forced to care for herself and three younger siblings on her own. The hardships Young’s mother had faced have formed her to have a cautious attitude. Young describes her mother as always giving out ridiculous warnings such as that concerts are dangerous because she could die in a mosh pit. Another example would be when Young is describing the dangers of the bacteria in the bathroom. Young’s mother has convinced Young that if she does not use a seat cover to shield the toilet seat, then Young will catch a fatal disease and pass on. In this humorous part of the narration, Young is not only telling a story, she is explaining how her mother’s mindset about the world has seeped into Young’s mind as well. Oddly enough, my mother also has a lavatory germ fear similar to Young’s mother. Young’s essay then became more relatable to my mother and my life as it was meant to do for all

audiences.

Although my mother was not born in China, she has qualities that match Young’s mother’s well. My mother has always lived in the state of Ohio and was raised by a loving family in a small community. She did not have to face many hardships such as Young’s mother did. My mother’s cautious attitude, that I am now developing, I believe came from her father who was an immigrant from Latvia. In his travels to the United States, my grandfather was accompanied by his parents and younger brother and sister. The family journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean with several other hopeful immigrants. When the family arrived at Ellis Island, the hardships for my grandfather began. Both parents died and he was forced to take care of himself and two younger siblings when he was only fifteen years old. My grandfather and Young’s mother have similar backgrounds and childhoods. My mother has now learned from my grandfather the same skills and knowledge that Young is taught by her mother. My mother is now passing all of her scrupulous ways to her children. For example, my mother has made me more aware of suspicious people lurking around and has taught me how to defend myself either physically or verbally. She has also showed me methods to collect the least amount of germs possible. For instance, she tells me to try not to touch public door handles with my bare hands, to flush a public toilet with my foot, to not touch the railing on the escalator, etc. When Young began to talk about her mother’s fear of germs, her essay went from a narration to a personal experience in which I can relate to.

Just as Young conveyed her mother as a cautious woman in her narration, I believe my mother has cautionary characteristics as well.

Both women are the most powerful influences and teachers in their children’s life. Ever since I was little and since Young was a babe, our mother’s have been raising us with a certain mindset to benefit our well-being. Both mothers send constant reminders of what is right and wrong verbally and often telepathically to their children as well. The telepathic reminders happen because Young and I are so influenced by our different yet similar mothers, that their wise words have been tattooed into the subconscious. Mother’s and guardians across the world seem to have a similar way of thinking. They imagine the worst possible case scenario that is possible but unlikely to occur. However, they screech out warnings and orders to for our personal safety and out of love. Although Young’s mother differs from my own in several ways, their cautious attitudes serve the purpose of keeping the people in their lives safe and teaching them to be wise in decision

making.

Young’s “The Undercurrent” has a relatable theme that rings true for all readers. Each individual has an influence in his or her life whether it is a grandparent, friend, celebrity, or anyone else that shapes him or her into the person they become. Young tells her narration in a humorous fashion that also brings the point across on how important the influences in life are. I feel I connected to Young’s essay on a personal level because I find many similarities in our mothers.
Young’s mother appears to be a combination of my grandfather and my mother. My grandfather was a young immigrant who faced many hardships just as Young’s mother has. However, Young’s mother teaches and influences her daughter the way that my mother influences me. Young’s writing attracts all audiences because after reading her essay, the reader will be able to relate recognize the person they have learned most from as well. My mother is my greatest influence and always will be just as Young’s mother is and this connection has made her essay transform from a funny story to an insightful association.