The person who has touched and molded your life and made the author the person you are today - Essay Example

Memorable Person: My Mother My earliest memories are centered round the person who continues to be the guiding force of my life: my Mother. At first appearance, my Mother may not seem impressive to a stranger: she is a diminutive five feet in height, dark, has very nondescript features and is a very shy person. It is her eyes which light up her face and always shine. Her hair is her crowning glory and remains thick and luxuriant, although now streaked with grey. Her command over the English language is not very powerful. However, once she begins to communicate, the force of her personality, and her sharp intelligence, shines through. She uses gestures naturally and her face displays hundreds of emotions. Language then stops being a barrier to her. She can enter into a conversation with anybody, and get across her messages more effectively than many native speakers of English. My Mother is my role model in life. To me, my Mother is associated with the fragrance of lavender: her favorite soap. This fragrance has always filled our home, and little sachets of dried lavender would be kept in the drawers and shelves of the wardrobes. Even when I am in a public place, the smell of lavender always brings with it a feeling of comfort and warmth to me, and fills me with the confidence to face all the trials of life. It is this feeling of security and courage which is the greatest gift my Mother has given me, making her the most memorable person in my life. I was born when she was thirty-eight years old. It is a tribute to her determination and strength that I was delivered naturally, without any surgical intervention, although Mother was past her prime in child-bearing terms. The conditions of my birth are typical of the attitude my Mother shows in every aspect of her life. She is always determined to do things in her own way and stands by her decisions. She does not believe in making a fuss over things. When I was a little girl, cuts and bruises would be treated with disinfectant, a kiss and a strip of Band-Aid, and I would be matter-of-factedly sent on my way. There was no encouragement to self-pity: only a steadfast resolve to bear pain stoically. She inculcated in me the belief that any suffering is only temporary and will pass. This early molding now anchors me when the storms of life threaten to overturn my boat. Although it may sound old-fashioned in these days of feminism and emphasis on equal opportunity, my Mother taught me the importance of cooking, cleaning the house and helping with every household chore. I may have resented this when I was in school and my classmates were not compelled to do the dishes, sew missing buttons on shirts, or taught to make simple dishes and cups of coffee. But now that I have my own family, I realize that my Mother laid the foundation of a happy home by bringing me up to appreciate the values that bind a close-knit family. Taking care of my family, cooking their favorite dishes, and keeping a home comfortable and warm enough for them to look forward to at the end of the day, gives me great happiness. Mother prepared me for marriage and motherhood as nobody else ever could. I now make sure that I pass on to my daughters the little joys of homemaking: although I doubt I can match my Mother in this! Without my Mother’s encouragement, I would never have considered going on to college after completing High School. I was not a brilliant student, and did not think that I had it in me to excel at academics. It was Mother who inculcated in me the belief that it is education which can lift a person’s life to higher planes of success and fulfillment. Every ‘A’ I secured in school was celebrated at home with a special cake. Mother would keep emphasizing that hundreds of options waited for me in the world of academics, and I only had to spend time and thought on what I wanted to choose. “It’s not necessary that you have to become a scientist: study what appeals to you. But don’t stop studying.” I began to consider going on to college. When I was in the tenth grade, my Mother’s older sister came on a extended stay with us, to recover from a major surgery. As I watched my Mother take care of my Aunt, I marveled at the tenderness with which she treated her sister. Of course, I had always observed that Mother would be the first to offer to help when there was any trouble in the family, but this was another side of her. She would also encourage me to spend time with my Aunt and do little things, like making the bed or sponging her face. Slowly, the realization grew in me that this was what I wanted to do in my own life: Nursing. It was my Mother who led me to discover my vocation in life. For this alone, I owe her a great debt of gratitude. The backbone of my Mother’s existence is her religious belief as a Christian. She lives her religion every day, in every aspect of her thought and actions. It is from her that I have learnt that being a true Christian does not mean attending church services faithfully, or reading the Bible every night: it is to be right out there in the front when anyone needs help. It is because of her example that I strive to be a better Christian, and find my own refuge and sources of strength in my faith. This is one of the greatest gifts I have received from my Mother. At present, my Mother is sixty-nine years old, and is as energetic and full of enthusiasm for life as she always was. She is ready to learn anything new: from yoga to dance! She remains totally independent. In fact, it is her children and grandchildren who depend on her for comfort in times of sorrow, and advice in dealing with the different aspects of life. She continues to be the bedrock of my life. There is no one else who has touched and molded my life and made me the person I am today. All that I now am, I owe to her. She is the most memorable person of my life. Read More