Grades 11–12
MemoirWritingAntonia O.: a person who loves to hang out with her friends and makes them laugh. She loves to play flag football and loves to eat. She likes to help others when they are in need. She tries to stay on track with her grades and always tries to do better academically.
Por ti soy agradecida for coming to the U.S. and wanting to give me a better future and for my siblings. A mother who did everything for me when there were many obstacles in the way. For you who did the best you could to provide me with food and for everything I have ‘til this day. For you who filled in for a person who wasn’t in my life, who gave me the love I needed. And from you I got many inspirations to not give up even if it gets hard because when you come from the people around you not helping out you still managed and made it possible to make it to the top. A woman who still managed to keep looking forward in life, and kept walking when life wanted to pull her back. A hardworking person who has done almost every job in her life to provide for me and my siblings and has pushed through battles in her life to get where she is. A person who hasn’t given up yet despite the way others treated her and wanted her to fail in misery.
My mother who has a kind heart to help lots of people on her way to the top. She is always generous and loves to help others when they are in need because she knows how it feels to come from nothing. My mom has a heart of gold even when she doesn’t have enough for herself she still loves to give. My mom, who views things as a lesson from which we can learn from. Mi mamá que nunca tuvo lo que yo tengo en esta vida, yet she deserves the world in my eyes. I am proud of my mom. She has worked really hard and deserves to rest. My mother who lives her life to the fullest. A person who has faith in God and con Dios a su lado todo fue posible.
I remember those nights when you prayed for those things you have now. You put in that hard work. That is why I strive to do better to make her feel proud and for her to know that all she has done for me didn’t go to waste and that no matter what, I have to keep pushing because she did as well. My mom is a person who always says, “Si puedes soñarlo, puedes lograrlo.” A wise woman who knows what is best for me.
The bond with my mom grew over time once I grew and hit that age I understood where she was coming from. The struggles, time, money, everything made sense. Me and my mom can finally joke around, talk without arguing. Maybe me and her didn’t have the best bond but over time we grew to understand each other.
My mom is not perfect but she tries to do what is best for my family. She is my reason to keep going and do better. I learned the saying: “Aprender del pasado vive en el presente y trabajar para el futuro.” And that’s when I realized how important it is to keep going and to learn from our mistakes and make it out of this lifestyle where mostly all the kids my age don’t end up well. I do it for me and for my family. If my mom can make it, then I can make it as well. Soy la más afortunada de tener te como mi mamá la persona más importante en mi vida una mamá muy incredible, fuerte, amable, y cariñosa con una carisma que te has muy diferente de las otras. La que me ayudó ver la vida como un regalo y der ser agradecida de lo que tengo y te deseo mas buenas cosa en tu vida. Espero que yo te pueda hacer feliz con mis decisiones en el futuro. . . now I hope her life contains nothing but clear skies from now on. I have an opportunity to change our lives and get into college, and with my studies, I can work hard and reach my goals with you by my side. I can do anything because I know you are always going to be there for me and support my decisions. Thank you Mami, for being an inspiration in my life and a role model for me and my reason to keep doing better.
***
This piece was originally published in 826LA’s Los Hijos de las Mariposas.
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