Ms. Mother by Jaelynn

Ms. Mother by Jaelynn - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

Over my eighteen years of life and my thirteen formal years of school I have been surrounded by “teachers”. I feel it is important to use quotations because there were times when I would be taught by my peers. Everyone around you has the potential to be your teacher. With this in mind, I believe I am going on the untraditional route for my most influential teacher, who would be my mother. Growing up and until this day I look up to my mother and aspire to make her proud. Besides this I look at her and understand the challenges she has faced and pushed through while taking care of her children, putting herself through school, receiving two master’s degrees, and teaching other students. With whatever my mom had on her plate she taught my siblings and I the importance of compassion, education, the critical nature of self-investment and so much more, and while teaching these lessons she has applied them to her life.

I have grown to understand that not everyone has the same childhood, experiences, or knowledge of the world. I listen to friends, acquaintances and read real-life encounters about childhood abuse and my heart breaks. As someone who has not to have to go through that trauma, I use to automatically think everyone’s caregiver was just that. Conversely, my mom taught me young that no two people have the same experience in life, and behind closed doors, you never know what anyone is going through. With this in mind, I strive towards being a light for others. Even if it is just a friendly smile, or a compliment the action of kindness no matter how small you believe it to be can change how someone goes about their day.

Growing compassionately towards others is one of many reasons I am who I am. But I would forget about being compassionate towards myself. For a long time, I would put my needs last and as my mom saw this she taught me that it is important to care for yourself and invest in your well-being. Though this is hard for me I look at my mom and see how she cares for herself, preaching taking breaks does not mean you care for anyone else less. A five or ten-minute cool down or rest of the eyes helped my mom receive two master’s degrees. My mom’s example has shown me being driven does not mean working yourself to the bone.

As the recent pandemic hit, I was in my mother’s presence more. I was basically in the room as she taught her students. Watching my mom reach others felt encouraging, I hear her students call her mom or auntie, see how their bonds progress, and listen to the occasional “I’m giving you the same advice I would give my children”. This was always the case but I had my own classes to be in so subsequently I would never butt in. As I listen to the advice given I am able to think back to a time where she gave me the advice. This teaches me the importance of equity and empathy. No matter the student or peer my mom looks at the person sees the best in them and tries to guide them in what she believes is the best direction. This brings us back to the lesson of the day, to be compassionate. I practice concern towards others and myself which has made me the person who advocates for the voices of others, the person who dreams of becoming a child psychologist to instill my mother’s teaching on future generations to hopefully create a future of understanding individuals.