When I was a young girl, my mother raised me with moral values and to appreciate the significance of education. She was brought up with strict parents who also believed strongly in having an education. Although she experienced being a mother at the age of 16 and had to drop out of high school, she later became a licensed practical nurse. It was the job that best suited her because she cared deeply for other people and it showcased just how brilliant she was. It took her a tremendous amount of patience and long nights of studying just so that she could graduate from nursing school. I had so much admiration and respect for her being so passionate towards earning her job title that I knew I wanted to be as determined as her in life.

I remember vividly about when my mom first taught me how to write. I was eight years old, and I had to submit a poem about school to read out loud in front of the principal. I did not know where to begin, so I asked my mom for help. She helped me create this marvelous piece of work:

School is fun.

School is great.

School is where I find my classmates.

I can run.

I can play.

But learning is just as important, each and every day.

Red, white and blue

are some colors I learned.

Just like taking turns.

It may seem long,

each minute of the day.

But school is what makes us strong.

Like it or not,

we must obey

all the things the teachers say.

So you better like school,

because there is no place else,

for you to be cool.

So remember everyone,

school is the place to be,

for you and me.

You may wonder how I still remember this poem from 16 years ago. Well, it was at that very same age that I discovered my interest in writing. I continued to ask for my mother’s help for a while until I eventually became confident in writing on my own. Sometimes I would read my writing pieces to her, and she would provide her feedback. However, I managed not to rely on my mother and asking her for help so that I could learn and grow as a writer.

Throughout elementary school and into high school, I have made high honor roll and honor roll. I may not have gotten good grades consecutively, but I loved school. I have had great friendships there, and I enjoyed learning different things each day. I love being challenged, especially on tests and writing papers. Some nights, I would follow in my mom’s footsteps and study from 2 am until I went to school at 7 am for a test. Of course, there have been subjects in which I did not do so well in like physics or math, but I still learned within those courses.

To sum up my experience as a child with school and a mother with high expectations, I highly encourage people to become educated. By educated, I do not only mean becoming book smart, but also becoming street smart. Learning how to spend your money, being aware of your surroundings, reporting any suspicious behavior, and helping out people in need are some examples of what I mean by being street smart. Going to a trade school is also beneficial for it directly targets the particular job you want. I feel that it is imperative to have an education because it opens a plethora of opportunities for you. It makes you feel proud and confident to earn that diploma, that degree, and those awards because it shows how much time you devoted to your studies. It will benefit you in the long run when you're making a resume and applying for jobs. For others, perhaps it is just a piece of paper that has led them to debt. To me, going to school has been second nature. When I am there, I know that I am bettering myself and ensuring that my future is as bright as it can be. I will never feel like I am a loser there when I have so much wisdom and knowledge to gain.