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Familial wisdom informs England’s outlook on life

KNITTING KNOWLEDGE. A young Ella England knits
sweaters with her grandmother. SUBMITTED PHOTO: Ella England
KNITTING KNOWLEDGE. A young Ella England knits sweaters with her grandmother. SUBMITTED PHOTO: Ella England

“Extroverted. Energetic, might say even a little overbearing, and maybe a little ignorant” are descriptors junior Ella England uses to describe her younger self. As a child, England participated in a variety of activities, ranging from recreational sports that her parents got her into, such as alpine skiing and mountain biking, to collecting Pokémon and “Magic: The Gathering” cards. However, time spent with her family is the basis of some of her most cherished memories today, especially the memories she shared with her grandma, who currently resides in North Carolina.

When England was young, her grandma knit sweaters and hats to give to people in need once or twice a month. England played a critical role in the operation, helping her grandma send her wool creations to nearby churches for public distribution. When her grandma was not knitting, she was also a go-to person for animals in her neighborhood.

“When a bunch of cats that her neighbor didn’t want came to her house, she fed them and got them checked at the vet even though they weren’t hers or her responsibility,” England said.

Nowadays, England visits her grandma less often compared to her childhood, but she took her grandma’s personal mantras of being a kind person and helping others to heart, shaping her into the person she is today. Some of her grandma’s sayings still resonate with England today, such as “look on the bright side,” a phrase her grandma often uses whenever there is something important to talk about.

Alongside her grandma, her parents have also guided England’s perceptions of the world and her surroundings. A tenement of her worldview is education, which has been shaped by England’s own experiences and her family’s past.

“Education is important. Whenever I feel like I don’t want to do homework or an essay or something, I motivate myself [by thinking] no one else in my family had the opportunity,” England said.

England’s family experiences, from taking care of cats to a love for knitting and education, have taught her how to stay dedicated to the things she loves. Her childhood memories are a key part in shaping her hobbies and passions. From the past to the present, family has remained a huge part of England’s life, and stays that way as she continues to find new ways to expand her horizons while holding her family members’ words close to her heart.

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