I said goodbye to my best friend this week. By my best friend I mean my mom. I moved into my dorm and my parents helped me, but saying goodbye to them was the hardest thing in the world. I'm a daddy's girl so of course I cried when he left, but I cried a little harder when my mom left. My mom has been my rock through these last 17 years of my life. She has been the person I went to for advice or if I just needed someone to talk to. My mom has been my motivation all my life because I want to be just like her.

If I could describe my mom in one word it would be: strong. My mom has been through a lot in her life, but she has always kept her faith and her head held high. She always has been strong for me and my brother. She never would show any sadness to us because she wanted to show us that you could be going through the worst but still was able to stay strong. It always amazes my brother and I on how strong she really is. She always tells us how we have changed her for the better but she doesn't know how she has really changed us as well.

My mom has showed me how to be a strong independent black woman since I was born. She has always made me do things for myself especially this past year since I was senior about to go off to college. Of course, teenager me hated it because I thought it was easier for her to do it for me. Now looking back I'm happy her and my dad did that because I feel prepared to take on whatever college is going to bring me. I know who to take care of myself from doing my own laundry (this one was the hardest) to going by myself to get my car checked on. But she was always there to tell what to do and if I needed help she would help me (only after I begged her 10,000 times).

My mom has always told me "You don't need to depend on a man to do everything for you, but you do need a man for some things." At first when she would say that I would be a little confused because once again teenager me thought that I could do everything myself. Then I thought about how I saw her and my dad depend on each other all the time. My dad needed her to help with doing domestic things around the house and my mom depended on my dad to do all the manly stuff like mowing the lawn. Seeing how they would divide up the responsibilities was amazing growing up because it showed me how a long lasting marriage is supposed to be. She would always tell me how much she loved my dad and how she's happy that God brought him into her life. Twenty-two years and counting...

I'm honestly in tears writing this because I love her so much. She has taught me how to be a strong, independent, loving future wife, loving future mom, loving sister, wonderful daughter, and so much more! She's my best friend and I'm proud to say that. She will always be my best friend, and I miss her everyday. I love you Mom!