The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday: A 16yo's Report on Discipline, Duty, and Death.

Hello comrades! Actually, four days ago, my 95-year-old Russian great-grandmother passed away while I was at school. In fact, I received the news only after I got home from my lessons.

Personally, I am just 16 years old. (I have 88% Armenian origin, 6% Ukrainian origin from my father’s side, and 6% Russian from my mother’s side). Generally, for the past three years, I have been on a strategic path, deciding to improve my personality and achieve my goals regardless of the situation. Admittedly, this news partially surprised me, but on a personal level, I decided to control my emotions and help my parents depending on the situation. Consequently, I called my mom, and she told me that I would be absent from school for three days. To be honest, I thought to myself: "The only easy day was yesterday."

Next day, on April 1st, my father organized the funeral arrangements in just two hours. According to the plan, I went to the funeral home and saw my great-grandmother in the casket. To be frank, it didn't surprise me because I can control my emotions in any situation, regardless of what others think of my actions. Eventually, I decided to walk up to the casket and stand in front of it. Personally, I crossed myself, paid my respects, and then went to the lounge area near the main room.

During the service, I built connections with my grandmother's relatives, especially the elders. Actually, we had a great and successful discussion about the political situation in Armenia and the upcoming elections. Even while the priest arrived and started to pray for my great-grandmother, I remained composed and continued the political discussion in the lounge. Generally, that day was smooth, according to the plan... but it was only the beginning.

The next day, my father called me and said we had to go back to the funeral home to organize the burial. After the priest's prayers and speech, personally, I took the flowers and placed them in the truck. Afterward, the workers carried the casket and placed it inside the hearse. Subsequently, I sat in the car with my father and headed to the cemetery for the interment.

Personally, I carried the portrait of my great-grandmother to the grave site. During the ceremony, the priest called forward three people who were closest to her. Generally, according to the procedure, he said that my 13-year-old brother, my father, and I had to take the soil and pour it near my great-grandmother's right and left hands inside the casket.

Actually, I remained calm throughout the process. Personally, I felt the momentum of the beginning of my maturity. After the burial, the priest performed a final ritual where he marked the four sides of the grave with his cross, followed by the "Lord's Prayer." Finally, we were ready to head to the funeral repast (memorial dinner) for the rest of her spirit.

Additionally, on a personal level, I feel a deep responsibility for all my relatives and especially for my immediate family. The next day, we returned to the cemetery and burned incense as part of our tradition.

Personally, I want to emphasize and underscore the fact that my great-grandmother's grave is surrounded by fir trees. Actually, the cemetery is situated on a hill, and from that height, you can observe two major neighborhoods of my city. Standing there, overlooking the city, I felt the weight of my new duty.

Right now, I am serious and responsible for my relatives. Ultimately, I have to ask: Can this change my personality for the rest of my life to become a real man? And if so, how?