My life has always had troughs and dark phases. Ever since I was a little girl, I remember cutting colorful coupons out of magazines and booklets while sat at a wooden still, little feet dangling as my mother would play music in the background. We'd mix water with our juice to make it stretch just a little longer, make sure to always turn the lights off in any room we weren't in, and frequently visit thrift shops. Hand me downs were a gift and yogurt was considered dessert. We'd make lemonade stands on hot summer days and sell whatever we didn't need at yard sales. To me, this was normal. It was the my little world revolved. At the age of eight years old, my parents divorced due to my father's abuse to not only my mother, but my sister and I. It was long, grueling, and devastating, taking years to finalize and thousands upon thousands of dollars. My mom, having been a stay at home mom, had to relaunch herself and make a large amount of money in a short amount of time. My mom had to give up our home and move us into a small apartment. The walls were thin and there was barely any room. But at that point, I didn't care. Mom was trying her best, and that was all that truly mattered to me. The mother who raised me had become my biggest inspiration. And even though we argued and fought from the stress we were dealing with, it brought us closer than ever before. She worked till she dropped just to give my sister and I a good future. This woman, who was going through so much at the time, always supported me, kept good food on the table, and gave me the love I needed to thrive. Now, my mother has finally found a good man who gives her the same treatment she gave us. Unlimited love and affection. I aspire to be as brave, smart, and kind as her. I use her wisdom on a daily basis, especially when it comes to finances. Having taken multiple courses and seen with my very own eyes how bad budgeting can kill your future, I will use everything I've learned to better my future as much as possible. I know how to budget, cook cheap meals that last, make products stretch for as long as they can, and so much more. I'm always hesitant to spend money and always ask myself "do I really need it?" I still thrift because the clothes are just as good as new. My mind has been shaped in a way that will benefit me for the rest of my life, all thanks to my mother's shear smarts and my school's curriculum.