The greatest influence on my life was my father.
A Physician, poet, and a true leader, he provided me with both physical and emotional support. To him I owe my outgoing personality, leadership qualities, strong beliefs, and high moral values about life. He spared no time sharing his wisdom with all of his children, yet I think he favored me with little more since I was the youngest and the last to leave home. His hugs are what I remember the most, but I also remember his smile whenever he came to pick me up from school. Happily carrying my backpack, he would hold my hand and ask about my day. My father was adamant about making each one of his children believe that their voice counts. Each one of us had a place on the table, had the right to express our opinion, and the right to disagree with him. Today, he continues to impact my life even after his demise. I aspire to perfection in everything I do because of what I learned from him. I look back and question what would he have done, whenever I am faced with a problem. His words of wisdom guide me as I strive to raise my three children hoping that I can leave the same effect on their lives as he did on mine.
To my mother I owe lots of gratitude.
A homemaker, heart mender, and a great cook. Even when she was overshadowed by my father’s show of affection, I knew that my mother loved me just as much. She might have not hugged or kissed as much, yet her eyes were the messenger to her love. In my mom’s eyes I saw pride when I succeeded in school, distress when one of my siblings left for college, excitement when she found the perfect dress for me to wear on a holiday, and happiness as she prepared everyone’s favorite dish, on the same day! Today, she continues to impact my life and the lives of my children as I look back at the picture she painted of a great wife and mother and try to be one.
My personal childhood web wouldn’t be complete if I did not include my three siblings; my two brothers and my one and only sister. Being the youngest of them all, my sister used to tell me that when I was a baby, carrying me was a treat. My mom would seat all three of them on the bed and each one would get to hold me for one minute. I grow up looking up to my brothers and sister. My fondest memories of them are when they used to come during recess time to check on me in kindergarten and bring me a treat, taking me on big rides in amusement parks, and waiting anxiously at the airport for them to arrive home from college for vacation. Today, they continue to look out for me as their baby sister. My brothers flew in from the United Kingdom, where they reside, for moral support when I lost my husband, and my sister, who I am blessed to have her here in California with me, did not leave my sight for a whole month. The bond that my parents instilled between us as children continues to hold us close and I hope that I can implant the same bond between my own children.
