It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, and I was in my room struggling with homework. Frustrated, I suddenly heard a cry from outside: “Sharpen your scissors and kitchen knives!” My dad, sitting nearby, remarked, “Isn’t our pair of scissors not working well? Why don’t you take it out to get sharpened?” Already annoyed, I reluctantly grabbed the scissors and headed outside with a scowl.
Out on the street, I found the source of the call—a man in his sixties with a kind demeanor. He was perched on a well-worn electric bike, his twinkling eyes barely visible beneath a maze of wrinkles. “Here to sharpen your scissors?” he asked with a friendly smile. I handed him the scissors. “These definitely need some sharpening,” he said as he started gathering his tools from the bike. In no time, he got to work.
As he sharpened, he started a conversation. “Kid, you’re in middle school, aren’t you?” he asked. “Yes,” I replied, “I just started seventh grade.” “How’s school going? Doing well?” “It’s alright,” I answered, a bit puzzled by his questions. Why was he suddenly talking about school?
He continued, “You know, studying is a lot like these scissors. The more you use and refine them, the sharper and more effective they become. But if you neglect them, they get dull, even rusty. Learning works the same way. When you face a tough problem, don’t just give up and toss it aside. Instead, work at it, think harder, and challenge yourself. That’s how you keep your mind sharp and agile. Over time, if you keep at it, you’ll become smarter, and your grades will naturally improve.”
His words struck a chord, and he spoke with such passion that I couldn’t help but listen intently. Before I knew it, he was done sharpening the scissors.
“Here, try them out,” he said, handing them back. I tested them on a piece of cloth, and to my surprise, they worked perfectly. “Wow, you weren’t kidding. These are great now!” I exclaimed, genuinely pleased.
After paying him, I watched as he packed up his tools, and I started heading home. On the way, his heartfelt words echoed in my mind. Without realizing it, my steps quickened as a newfound determination began to take root in my heart.
