The Car Moved, and We Were Moved

Personal Statement

My name is Lucas Lyu, and I’m currently an ELL Level 5 student. I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors, so nearly every week, I head out on a new hiking trail. Each excursion not only gives me a chance to admire nature’s beauty but also challenges me to grow mentally and physically. Through my hikes, I’ve learned to persevere, stay curious, and appreciate the world around me. I hope to continue developing these qualities as I pursue my education and explore new trails along the way.

I will never forget that day’s moving experience. Even after all this time, I can still vividly recall every person, every moment, and every detail. On February 11, 2025, after the student-teacher meeting that morning, I had the chance to go home earlier than usual. Since it was the coldest day of the winter so far—the forecast predicted a low of 5°F at Snoqualmie Pass—it seemed like the perfect opportunity to visit Franklin Falls and see the frozen waterfall.

My daughter and I drove there in a BMW X5 with all-wheel drive. The drive was smooth, and we reached our destination safely. The frozen waterfall was breathtaking—thousands of icicles hung from the cliff, twinkling in the sunlight. The whole scene resembled a crystal castle, serene and beautiful. We kept taking pictures from different angles, enjoying this rare sight. Time passed quickly, and as the sun began to set, the air grew even colder.

We returned to the parking lot and started driving home. Due to the recent snowstorms, the snowplows had pushed the snow to the sides of the road, forming piles about two feet high. About two miles from I-90 Exit 52, near a house on the left side of the road, the road was narrower than in other areas. I saw three cars approaching from the opposite direction, so I pulled over to let them pass. However, I may have moved too far to the side, and because the X5 is a heavy car, when I tried to drive forward again, the right-side wheels slid into a deep ditch. The more I tried to accelerate, the more the wheels spun, sinking deeper into the snow.

I let my daughter take the wheel while I got out to push, but it didn’t work. I then tore up a cardboard box from the trunk and placed the pieces under the tires to add grip, but the spinning wheels simply flung them away. Now, the right-side wheels were completely stuck at the bottom of the ditch. I started to feel anxious. Even though the weather was freezing, I was sweating from the stress.

Just when we didn’t know what to do, a car stopped on the opposite side. A young man rolled down his window and asked if we needed help. He and his girlfriend got out and checked the situation. Then, they took the floor mats from their car and placed them under our tires. His girlfriend stood in front to guide the direction while my daughter drove. The young man and I pushed from behind. We kept repositioning the mats and trying different ways, but nothing worked.

At that moment, the owner of the nearby house came out. He told us that this kind of accident happened often—just a day ago, he had helped another stranded car. He went back inside and returned with three pieces of firewood for us to place under the wheels. But the ditch was too deep, and the snow too soft. The car still wouldn’t move.

As it grew darker and colder, another car stopped. Two strong young men got out and joined us.

“Three, two, one, push!” We pushed together—forward, back, forward, back—but the car barely moved.

“Would you mind if I drove the car?” the older, stronger young man asked me. Perhaps he thought his driving skills were superior, so he took my daughter’s place at the wheel, leaving us to push from behind. No matter how hard he tried, it still didn’t work.

Then, yet another car stopped. A couple stepped out, and the woman, who seemed like a leader, quickly assessed the situation. She told her boyfriend to find solid objects, like small rocks and ice, to place under the tires instead of soft snow. Meanwhile, the two strong men lay on the ground to clear the snow beneath the car. Though I was the car’s owner, it felt as if each of them was working harder than me.

“Thanks to Costco,” the girl leader’s boyfriend jokingly said as he brought over three more cardboard boxes from their car. All these boxes were placed under the tires. With five people pushing from the right side and two from behind, we tried again.

“Three, two, one, push!” After several attempts, the car finally climbed back onto the road.

Everyone cheered and exchanged high-fives. “We did it!” We then parked in a more spacious spot, this time ensuring it was a safe location. Rolling down the window, we let the car that had helped us go ahead and sincerely said, “Thank you very much! Have a wonderful day!”

“Yes, we have! You too!” they replied with smiles.

On this coldest winter evening, I felt the warmest warmth. In a place whose name I do not even know, so many strangers came together to help us. When you help others, others will help you too. When others help you, you should help others as well. In the end, we are all helping ourselves.

The frozen waterfall was beautiful, but the most beautiful thing that day was the kindness of these people.

The car moved, and we were moved.