At least once a day people congratulate me. No, it is not because I look great, nor have I done anything that really deserves a hearty congratulations. No, it is because on my left hand, on my ring finger, I happen to wear a diamond ring. A diamond engagement ring. Here is the real kicker though, I am not engaged. In fact, I am single.
On my 18th birthday, my grandmother pulled me aside from my party and told me she had something to give me. Then, to my astonishment, she took off her engagement ring that my grandfather had given her 50 years ago and gave it to me. My grandfather had died 17 years prior to this so I knew how much this ring meant to her. "This ring symbolizes love," she told me, "and is not to be taken lightly. Wear it throughout your life to remember the love your family has for you, and the love you deserve. Do not settle."
In my psychology class one of my assignments was to do something out of the ordinary, to see how those closest to me would react. Since I already had a real engagement ring I figured this would be the easiest assignment. Earlier this week I slipped the engagement ring onto my finger and waited to see people's reactions.
Little did I know how upset my family or friends would get. It seemed silly to me, for one to be upset at a ring. Then it began to sink in. This ring was a symbol of my grandfather's love for my grandmother. The ring itself is nothing too special, in fact, it is only worth a couple of hundred dollars. It is a single gold band, with a diamond in the middle. However, what it represents is something truly wonderful.
To me, this ring represents a promise. A promise that I will finish school and go on to law school. A promise that I will always remember and love my grandmother. And finally, a promise that I will never settle. I hope one day that I can meet a man who will love me the way I deserve to be loved. However, until then, I will continue to wear this little piece of perfection. After all, if it helped my grandmother find true love, who's to say it won't help me find mine?
