My Mom, My Inspiration!

Kyle Gopaul is a seventh-grader at Hawtree Creek Middle School and received an honorable mention.

My mom is a loving and generous person. She is also strong and inspiring. Although my mom has several health issues, that doesn't stop her from being a super mom. She is also a wonderful daughter to our grandmother, a great wife to my hardworking father, and a wonderful big sister and aunt. She is supportive of everyone. She truly tries to make her children and family members happy, even on days she feels sad or deals with pain. Not only does she try her best to keep everyone happy, she also feels our pain and sadness whenever we encounter any bad situations. My mother teaches us to pray, and very often, we pray together as a family. Alongside teaching us how to pray, my mother also teaches us important religious knowledge. For example, she always says, “God comes first.” This has taught me the importance of God and I do believe God comes first, but right next to my mother. I love and appreciate my mother and see all the sacrifices she makes for the sake of our family.

I am twelve years old and yes, it’s still very young, but also old enough to know that I want to grow up to be just like my amazing mother. I study hard and try to maintain good grades so I can become a doctor. I decided I wanted to be a doctor a few years ago when I saw my mom at the hospital hooked up to a heart monitor. As soon as I saw her, a million thoughts were running through my head. How did you end up here? How did you get to the hospital? My mom told me that something was wrong with her heart and soon pain rushed through her body. With no further delay, then my dad took her to the E.R., From the E.R, they transported her to the hospital for higher attention. After hearing all this, I found myself in a state of sorrow and stress. I was only an 8 year old back then and was seeing my mother in this state. The idea of me not being able to help my mom scared me, so then and there I knew I was going to persevere and become a doctor.

My mother immigrated from Trinidad and Tobago over twenty years ago. When she talks about the time she arrived in NYC, I get very sad. She had come to America with high hopes of a better future. However, despite how hard she worked, she was disadvantaged and underpaid because she was considered an illegal immigrant. But, the plans she had for her future gave her the strength to keep working towards her goals. She never gave up even though she was

exhausted and sad at times. She kept being positive and believed that eventually, she would find comfort, peace, and true happiness in her life. Even then, she always knew she would meet her Prince Charming and have two sons. That actually happened!

My mom wanted to get married and have her own family. After a few years, she met my dad. They actually knew each other from Trinidad. It was pure fate! Shortly after they got married they bought their first home together and welcomed me into the world. Then a few years later we welcomed my baby brother.

I am inspired by my mother’s hard work and sacrifices. I apply her kind and genuine ways, her hard work, and her honesty into my everyday life. For example, I want to be able to take care of my family and I know in order to do that, I have to continue to achieve gold honors throughout my time in Hawtree Creek. There are times I don’t feel like studying, but I snap out of it because without my mother’s advice, hard work, and dedication I won’t have a chance to get accepted into a specialized high school. Also, I want to achieve a scholarship to a great college. All my understanding comes from my mom talking to me, explaining life and how hard it will be to find a great paying job without the right education and tools. I am truly inspired to work hard and not give up on my dreams. I have many, many more years of studying ahead and I’m convinced that with the support of my family, I will prosper in every single way. My mother’s next piece of advice to me is, “Keep reaching for the stars,” and this helps me believe that I am capable of anything. I love, admire, and appreciate my mom and family very much.