Macky Larkin ’29
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Academic Interest
Psychology
The loud, electrifying sounds of AC/DC and Foo Fighters blaring from the radio suddenly shattered the stillness of my morning. Each guitar strum from the radio rattled through our house, waking me from my peaceful sleep. My sister had a ritual of blasting loud music to start her day. Growing up, we shared a room, so she was always just two inches or two steps away. Our tiny room was a reflection of our relationship with unavoidable closeness and shared experiences. Across the narrow hallway was my brother’s room, completing our trio of sibling closeness. The walls of our modest home couldn’t contain the harshness of our individual interests: blaring guitars, intense video games, and TV shows all combined into a harmony of our family’s obnoxious noise.
My house was always busy with some kind of activity going on. My sister would play her guitar in our room while my brother played games in his, each competing to be the loudest. Naturally, she always won by blasting her favorite band, The Beatles. When my parents left my sister in charge, my brother and I had a usual routine of watching TV in the kitchen while she blared loud music from our room. This night in particular stood out. My sister randomly stepped out of the room with a familiar record in her hands. The Beatles. I watched as she carefully placed the needle onto the record. The moment John and Paul’s voices filled the room with the song “Twist and Shout” we all leapt into dance. Those are some of my favorite memories spent dancing randomly and enjoying music together. They taught me the value of cherishing family, appreciating the beauty of the present, and enjoying music.
As the night ended and my parents came home, I didn’t realize how much would change within the next four years. By the time both my brother and sister left for college, I was the only one left. The house, once filled with the lively sounds of music and games, became silent. The quiet was uncomfortable and eerie, a huge difference compared to the noisy, vibrant home I had always known. Although they still come home to visit, it will never be the same as it once was. We’ve all grown and learned to become our own individuals, creating our own separate paths. Those cherished, chaotic days are now important memories that shaped who I am today.
When my siblings left, I struggled to figure out how to be my own person. Navigating my own path was daunting at first. In this journey, I have learned to become outgoing and to develop a sense of pride in myself. I am no longer constrained by the mold my siblings had shaped and have embraced my individuality. I’ve learned to expand my horizons, cherish my relationships, and become a leader. Through this process I have realized that stepping out of my siblings’ shadows has allowed me to become someone I genuinely admire.
*Macky’s father, Joey Larkin ’96, also attended Cornell.