Author Archives: John Lally

“If you do something, do it right the first time”

Nationality: American
Occupation: Student
Performance Date: February 25, 2025

MAIN DESCRIPTION: 

JPL: “ Back in middle school, I remember one time, I was just doing my usual chores for my mom. She always had me help around the house and one day she asked me to clean the kitchen. I wasn’t really into it honestly and I started rushing through it, just trying to get it done and over with to go back to playing video games. But then my mom came in, looked around and said, ‘If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time.’

INFORMANT’S OPINION:

JL: What do you think this phrase means?

JPL: “At first, I didn’t get it. I thought she was just being picky. But as she explained, she said that doing things halfway just meant more work in the end. I remember thinking about it after and realizing the truth behind it. If I had just taken my time and cleaned the kitchen properly the first time, it would’ve been easier than having to redo it all. It wasn’t just about chores, though, it connected with a lot of things in life. If you’re going to put in the effort, you might as well make sure it counts. I’ve carried that lesson with me ever since. Do it right from the start, because it’ll save you time and effort down the road.”

PERSONAL INTERPRETATION:

I understood what this phrase meant personally as I had also come across it growing up. My mom also told me this as I used to cut corners in my chores and other miscellaneous tasks. She told me that when I don’t put in the effort from the beginning, I end up wasting more time in the long run. I realized that when you get something right the first time it not only keeps you from having to do it again but it also makes you feel proud and accomplished. It helped me understand that working hard isn’t about being perfect and making sure everything is done quickly so you can go back to whatever you were originally doing.  It’s really about being purposeful and careful. This phrase stayed in my mind not only about chores and tasks but also about future friendships, choices, and my own personal development. If you decide to put your time, energy, or feelings into something, give it your all.

“Hard work pays off”

Nationality: American
Language: English

MAIN DESCRIPTION 1:

CL: “My dad was a huge role model to me growing up.He instilled a lot of quotes along the way that really stuck with me. One of the quotes was, ‘Hard work pays off.’ He felt strongly that you might have good luck at certain stages along the way, but your true success comes from working hard, setting goals for yourself and pushing yourself to do the best you can.  My dad always worked very hard in his job and his personal passions, and he instilled the same in us. We could decide what passions we wanted to pursue, but once we committed, then there was no quitting. For example, it was up to me if I wanted to play tennis a particular year or be on the debate team, but once I committed I was committed. There was no quitting at that point.  He never pushed us too hard, but he felt it was important for us to try our best and not look back and wish we had tried harder.”

INFORMANT’S OPINION 1:

JL: What do you think this phrase means?

CL: “He thought kids should be curious and go out of their way to entertain themselves, read, explore, etc., in their free time. To sit back and wait for others to entertain you and have a plan and decide that you are bored is only a sign of a boring person and nobody wants to be boring!”

PERSONAL INTERPRETATION 1:

I grew up with the same values and ideals and now I see how much they shaped how I approach challenges. As a child I sometimes felt discouraged by tough challenges but these sayings always reminded me that my hard work would eventually be worth it. I discovered that hard work is not only about the results you see right away. “It’s about what you create as you go on your journey.” These sayings still help me today and I understand them better as I get older. I work hard stay curious and don’t expect things to be easy. The amount of effort you put into your life will decide how successful you become in the end.

“No Surrender”

Language: English

MAIN DESCRIPTION 1:

DM: “My dad would always say ‘no surrender’, I would always hear it growing up and no matter what it is basically, kinda just like to not give up, always push through. He said this phrase whether it was school sports, etc. He would continuously say this to me so that I wouldn’t give up on my hopes and dreams. It was almost like his mantra that he instilled in me and I’ve used it ever since.”

INFORMANT’S OPINION 1:

JL: What do you think this phrase means?

DM: “He thought that if he told me this then I would take it to heart, which is what I did. I used this phrase as motivation for whenever I faced a tough obstacle. I think it means to never give up when faced with hardship. Also, that I should never surrender or at least give it my all which I did for my academics and my athletics in my life.”

PERSONAL INTERPRETATION 1:

JL: I never really understood the meaning of “no surrender” as my parents never said it to me growing up. But I think I’ve definitely used this phrase when I faced my own challenges. It became a reminder to push through difficult moments instead of giving up. I believe I have used this phrase when I faced my own obstacles.I feel like I’ve instilled this mantra in my life as I keep going during tough times instead of quitting. I see how this way of thinking has benefited me in school sports and everyday life. It’s a simple idea that drives me to keep pushing forward and stay strong no matter what difficulties come my way.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

Language: English

MAIN DESCRIPTION:

CH: “Growing up, my parents would always tell me, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” They would usually say this when I focused too much on one thing, like an opportunity or a plan. When she said this, I didn’t really understand what it meant honestly, but as time went by, I started to understand that it was about having options. This means that if I depend too much on a single thing I could lose everything if that thing doesn’t succeed. They were reminding me that it would be wise to stay flexible and ready for other various possibilities in life. I’ve found this advice to be really useful in my life so I always remember not to put all my hopes, dreams, or plans into just one thing.

INFORMANT’S OPINION:

JL: What do you think this phrase means?

CH: “It reminds me that I should always have backup plans and think about different options instead of depending on just one. When I concentrated too much on just one thing it seemed like I was holding myself back.But when I thought about the phrase and used it, I felt more prepared for whatever came my way. It helped me take on more opportunities and not fear failure because I knew I wasn’t putting everything into one risky situation. The phrase has definitely encouraged me to think about all the options out there, and I see now how that mindset has helped me in life.”

PERSONAL INTERPRETATION:

I also received this advice from my parents. I believe the informant did an excellent job explaining the deeper meaning too. I think the informant did a great job explaining the deeper meaning as well. My parents often remind me to be open to various options and not to put all my effort into just one thing. I understand how important it is to think about all my choices in my personal life and for my future job options. It reminds me every day to pay attention to different parts of my life. If I depend too much on one thing I could overlook important chances and not achieve my best self.

“It’s all about parking karma.”

Language: English

MAIN DESCRIPTION:

CH: “When I was a kid I would drive around with my mom looking for a place to park. Whenever we searched for parking in busy areas she would always say “It’s all about parking karma.” She would say it with a smile and ask me to wait patiently. At first I didn’t really get what she meant but later I understood. She thought that if we stayed calm and had a positive attitude a parking spot would eventually become available for us. She used that method to maintain a positive atmosphere when the streets were crowded. I began using this habit as I got older saying “parking karma” every time I looked for a parking space. It became my method to remind myself to stay calm, positive, and hopeful no matter how annoying things got.”

INFORMANT’S OPINION:

JL: What do you think this phrase means?

CH: “Looking back, I think it really means that I should remain optimistic and be patient even when things get tough. My mom always thought that if I stayed calm and didn’t get upset, good things would come my way in the end. She thought that sharing positive energy even in little things like parking would help everything work out in the end. As time went on I realized that this saying could be used for other aspects in my life too. It could be used to face life with the same attitude. If I remain calm and keep an open mind, situations might improve even when it feels like everything is against me.”

PERSONAL INTERPRETATION:

I personally have never heard of this phrase so it is new to me in a sense. However, hearing the informant’s story presented me with this new mindset in life. Life does get pretty tough sometimes whether it’s trying to find parking in a crowded space or any other difficult scenario. It is truly important to step back, remain calm, and keep an open mind. Majority of the time, we get worked up in situations because they are stressful. It’s important to stay positive and let it run its course because in the end you will be fine.