One night in high school I had an essay due for my English class. I wanted to get a good grade to the point where I kept reading it over. But wanted to hear the perspective of the woman I most trust: my mother. I remember waiting for my mom to come home late from work that night to listen. Once she came home I told her “Mom can I read this to you?” in excitement. While, she’d say “Of course, Jill. I just need to take off my uniform.” While I was in the other room waiting I could hear her sighing from exhaustion from her long day of work as a waitress at a restaurant. Once she came back in the living room I started reading and I began to see her eyes shut. In my 16-year-old frustration, I’d say “Mom are you listening?” Trying to wake herself up she’d reply “Sorry, baby I’m listening. Just tired.” She would then wake herself up to listen. This was our school routine each week during high school. Every night before my mother went to bed she’d listen to me reading off my essays before submission, class presentations, or practicing for speech and debate. The next morning she would still wake up early and make me lunch. However, as I got older little did I know the tiredness she felt after long days of work dropping me off at school to getting ready for work afterwards. Repeating this process each week with barely one day off of work and still trying to cover shifts to get us by with rent and food. She did this for years and years until I graduated high school and to this day works at a restaurant. She has always been my sole parent. Playing the role of both mom and dad. In reflection, my norm was our struggle. She has always tried to give back to my sister and I. Barely buying anything for herself. I remember being sad in 8th grade because my friends got to buy new clothes and shoes for back to school. My mom knew I felt left out but kept telling me we had to save for food and rent. She then still went out of her way to not make me feel left out even with our financial situation. Then she asked her friend for money and worked to pay it back to take me back to school shopping the night before school so I’d at least have a first-day-of-school outfit. I tell you these stories because they shaped me into the person that I am today. My mother taught me the importance of compassion and sacrifice for the ones that you love. My mother taught me the importance of strength, hard work, and independence. Inspiring me within higher education. Without seeing my mother's perseverance I wouldn’t be where I am today. When I get overwhelmed with school and extracurricular activities I sit back and recognize the fact that my mother worked more than me still persevering. During community college, I worked 20 hours each week maintaining school and extracurricular activities. With my mother as an inspiration I pushed myself to transfer to Berkeley and today, I am a senior getting my B.A. in sociology graduating this Spring. My mother is truly my hero and I push myself in school in hopes to one day be able to build her a better life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mother and I truly am proud to call her my mom.