There are so many people who have had a big impact on my life, but there is only one person who has changed my life for years to come. My mom has had a strong, profound effect on me as an individual. She raised my brother and me by herself, and I can only imagine what she had to go through. It amazes me that she was still able to work, pay the bills, and spend time with me without relying on anyone else but herself.
I know times were tough for her without my father. I could hear her crying in her room sometimes, but every time she looked at my face, the more determined she became to raise me well and provide me with the necessities of life. When times were bad, she made it seem like everything was okay, always taking me out for ice cream when she knew she did not have any money to spend. At times, when she felt like giving up, she only kept having positive thoughts knowing that she will never abandon me and will always be there for me.
My mother also influences my life because she is not the selfish type. She is always there for me, and if someone else needs her help, she always tries her best to provide any assistance possible. My mother gives what she does not have; she wants to see my happy and does not spoil me, but rather, makes me work hard for the things that I want.
I remember when I was cut from the volleyball team sophomore year and all she said was, “Never give up and always follow your heart.” That Monday, returning to school after an emotional weekend, I asked to become the manager of the team, so, in a way, I could still feel I was a part of the team. Today, two years later, I am captain of the varsity team.
One lesson that I have really learned from my mom is to never judge individuals on the spot, but to always search deep down for the good in people. A person may act a certain way because of problems going on at home. It is not good to judge and make the person feel even worse. Everyone is human, and deserves to be given a second chance.
When I believed I wasn’t good enough, my mother was there for me to cheer me on. She is always telling me to think positively. She told me to have confidence, and with it, I will go a long way. My mother has been the most important person in my life. I learned that even though she may criticize me at times, I know she only wants the best for me, and to help me learn how to make the best decisions for my future.