For as long as I can remember, my mother has been and still is my greatest supporter. From milestones to academic achievements, my mom has always been a familiar face in the crowd of adoring parents. After immigrating to the United States, my mother Hyacinth became my unwavering embrace of support as I experienced childhood without a father. Throughout my difficult transition from the Philippine education system to the States which consisted of: constant trouble at school, experiencing near-failure in a few subjects, and being undecided in my future college major which ended with me in tears; my mom: her welcoming presence, comforting words, and ease of understanding were a constant variable. 2012. The year the Mayans "predicted" the end of the world. The year my mom and stepdad finalized their divorce. The year my world ended, or so I thought. I sat through months of school, ashamed, embarrassed, and wallowed in self-pity as the mothers and fathers of my classmates showed up to school events. Eventually, I'd convinced myself that I was at fault for my parents splitting up. I mustered the courage to open up to my mom about how I was feeling. She reassured me repeatedly that I had nothing to do with it, expressing that an individual leaving my life was not my fault. That some people aren't meant to be connected forever. However, if a person did attribute their absence as my doing, Hyacinth ingrained into me that the person who'd gone was never meant for me anyway. As a child, Hyacinth's patience, empathy, and willingness to see things through pushed me to be honest and independent. Her character inspired me to chase after my dreams. If there was something my mom wanted, she didn't wait around for the opportunity to fall into her hands. She didn't wait for the right person to come along, nor the right time to act upon it, she chased after it. Hyacinth did everything in her power. Not only that, but she worked for it. She spent countless nights; sleepless, fatigued, parenting, studying, and anxious. Anxious about the future. Anxious about the future of her kids. Anxious about her future. Her determination to seize every day is what led her to graduate as a Licensed Vocational Nurse that same year despite the multiple hurdles in her lane placed months, even years earlier. At the age of nine, I witnessed my mom accomplish that feat on the brink of impossibility given our circumstances at the time. She was and is a single mother who accomplished every feat possible and not. She went through every hurdle destroying barriers, yet making spaces for mistakes, learning opportunities, and love. Her courage, tenacity, and character molded me into a proactive, yet stubborn individual. From that moment onward, I slowly but surely began to put myself out there, some in the ways that Hyacinth did. I signed up for AP classes and passed my exams, which earned me college credit. When I was a sophomore, I signed up for my high school's early college program and got accepted. I graduated at 17 from high school and community college, simultaneously earning my diploma and associate's degree. Hyacinth's encouragement and openness not only helped me to push myself academically but its strengthened my belief in myself to chase after everything I want and achieve it. To fully honor my mother's support, love, and effort; I continue to pour my will, hard-working ethic, and ambition into continuing my education, most likely pursuing a higher level after my undergraduate studies. As always, nothing would be possible without her.

I'm proud to be an ally of the LGBTQ+ community because it is one of the most uplifting and welcoming communities to exist. The community is not only welcoming, but they allow members to freely express themselves without the fear of judgement. Members of this community are tough and resilient, proving to society that whom a person loves and their gender identity should be freely expressed and heavily advocated for. Instagram: @annemklnvdepa.