My mom is probably the best pal I've ever had. She has the best style, she's taught me to cook the best foods, and most importantly, she's a great example of an independent, incredibly strong woman.
When I was younger, my mom was the "strict mom." Her footsteps from the other room could strike fear into my ten year old heart when I had done something wrong. In high school, I made it home on time regardless of what I was doing, and mom was always there on the couch waiting for me.
Mom supported my musical ambitions, and she listened to countless hours of scales and rehearsals of the same concert pieces. When I picked up playing the guitar, knitting, crocheting, cooking, wood-burning, photography, and that one time I carved a walking stick, my mom was always there to be my first audience and my biggest fan. She drove me to all of the sports I played, and drove home for me when I forgot my gear or lost a uniform piece (the real reason why I picked dresses for our junior tennis uniforms). I was not allowed to quit, and I was never late.
As a young adult, timeliness and respect for others are valuable attributes in navigating the situations I face every day. Being an active listener and having strict self-discipline serve me well in my academic life-and it gives me more time to practice critical inquiry when thinking about problem and ideas.
There were many times when I was a kid that I wanted my mom to be my "friend;" I always wanted her to let me off the hook in a sticky situation, tell me it was okay to quit something that I was tired of doing, or let me avoid taking responsibility for something I had done/agreed to do. I always tried to add into the conversation how someone else had the same problem as me, or how their parents let them out of it.
Now, I am grateful for all of those times when she decided to be the best mom she can be. I am very privileged, and if I could do it over again, I'd probably have a better attitude toward the hand I've been dealt in life at an earlier age.
One thing that I am often told when people ask me about my plans for the future (or my current class/workload) is, "Wow, you're ambitious." Most of the time, I am left pondering what exactly that meant from those individuals specifically, but my response is usually just, "Yes, I am." Understanding my mom's success in academia, business, and interpersonal relationships as the result of her own ambition and loyalty to her family, has inspired me to face the world without fear or reservation.
