my very own idol

By Jazmine Heredia

Do you have an idol? Is there someone who you inspire to be like?

Oftentimes idols are famous people. But an idol can be anyone, a friend, a family member, a teacher, and the list goes on.

For me that person is My Mom.

Since before I was born my mom has been extremely hard working. She went to school and helped her parents work all at the same time. She does all that she can to make sure her family has food, clothes, and a roof over their head. She's extremely loving and caring. She also doesn't let anyone take her for granted.

From a young age my grandparents had been hard workers. They taught my mom to be the exact same way so she can eventually fend for herself. All their hard work led my mom to idolize them. She wanted to be as hardworking as they were.

Sonia: “Yes, of course. My mom and dad. Because my dad always told me that I had to learn to work, I had to learn to drive so that I could fend for myself later in life in case they passed away. (and my mom) because she taught me to clean she taught me to work as well. And how to start up businesses. Because my mom was always like ‘oh i'm gonna sell this, i'm gonna sell that, we're gonna make this business.’ and I was always the one that was with my mom.”

Ever since my mom was in school her parents have shown her how to be responsible and extremely hard working. They always went to work despite feeling tired or “out of it”. They were always dependable and responsible. They raised her to be that way too.

Sonia: “my mom and dad. Because my dad sometimes didn't feel the best but knew he still had to go to work because it was his responsibility. He showed me to be really responsible. And my mom, well she always told me “if you give in badly, people will no longer trust your work. So you have to be very respectful with your work and you have to always be working, unless you're really sick then obviously don't go to work.”

Hard work and respect is something my mom was taught and raised with. She now is raising her kids with that same mentality. She makes sure we are always respectful and responsible. She makes sure to remind us of the consequences for missing out on work or school. She also reminds us that we have to know our worth and not let anyone take us for granted.

Sonia: “Respect is really important because I don't like when kids are disrespectful. I don't like when they dont respect people. I don't like when people make fun of others. Everyone deserves respect. Everyone deserves to be respected. And I don't want my kids to be disrespectful. I like it when my kids are respectful, greeting people older than them, or whoever greets them. I always want to remind them that they have to work, and they have to know how to value themselves. And have them be respected. And to take care of themselves.”

My mom has always had that “hard working” mentality from grade school all the way till now. Having kids didn't change the way my mom thinks and views hard work. What did change was who she puts before anything and anyone. The people she will drop anything for. Those people are her kids.

Sonia: “ Now my life depends on my kids, because if I didn't have my kids I wouldn't have someone to wake up for, someone to go to work for, someone to fight for, or someone to teach what I know or what I think is good. So for me my kids are, it sounds a little bad but my kids are more important than my own parents. So my kids are everything for me.”

All these things make up the person my mom is. The way she has raised me and the examples she has set have also shaped the person I am today. Although there are things I'm still working on, what she has already taught me will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I will never forget how she taught me to be respectful. I will never forget the encouragement she gives me when I feel like giving up. I will also never forget how she tells me she's proud of me whenever I show her one of my achievements. Most importantly I will never forget the hard work and what she went through to give me and my brother a better life.

Music credits

Track: A Song Named Roses — Broke in Summer [Audio Library Release]

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