When I was young, a sense of responsibility beyond my years took hold of me. At just five years old, I felt the weight of circumstances I couldn’t fully understand. My mother, a single parent navigating the challenges of supporting two young children alone, found herself relying on faith and family to make ends meet. In my innocence, I believed that to help my mother, I needed to be older.
By the time I turned thirteen, I began to actively contribute to our family’s income. I found tasks like mowing lawns, landscaping for neighbors, and eventually assisting in running a food truck to earn extra money. These experiences taught me a crucial lesson – it’s not the absence of certain individuals in our lives that define us, but rather, the presence of those who support us without fail.
Life was not always easy for our trio, but together, we had a united front and relied on our faith to navigate life. My mother instilled in us values such as responsibility, a strong work ethic, and respect for others. Above all, she nourished our spiritual growth by making sure we attended church every Sunday, ensured we were active in a church youth group and constantly shared with us the teachings of Jesus Christ. Through these teachings I learned that the wealth of our family transcends material possessions.
My admiration and love for my mother runs deep. From a young age, I understood her struggles as a single parent and accepted the duty to play my part to ease her burden. With her unwavering faith, unbreakable determination, and strong work ethic, she always managed to overcome, even during the toughest times. Her influence has shaped my understanding of life, setting a very high standard that I strive to emulate.
As I stand on the brink of high school graduation, I have set my sights on becoming a first-generation college student. The journey so far has been shaped by resilience, unwavering faith, and a firm commitment to creating a better future not just for myself, but for my family as well. I will take my faith and Christian values and put those into action during this next exciting time of my life. Despite the fact there will be many unknowns and new adventures to come, I have a solid foundation and I will strive to find God’s will in my life.
