Challenge 9: Mom

103. Tell us about a person who influenced your life in a significant way. (Princeton)

From some point of time, I stopped saying “I love you” to my mom because I was shy. I do not know why I was shy now I think about it, but I feel I wasn’t being honest with my feelings and did not have the confidence to express. But one day, this side of me totally changed.

On an afternoon of July, when I saw my mom collapse in front of my eyes, I realized that my mom will not be or rather can’t be there for me always. I was in 5th grade then. I did not know what to do but as I was told to do in emergency situations, I called my mom’s friend for help. She helped me to take my mom to a hospital. Looking at my mom wearing the oxygen mask, my heart began to thump really fast. I started panicking thinking that I might not be able to see my mom ever again.

My mom was the only one who took care of me and so was my love for my mom bigger than for anyone else. Not even once did I wish or hope to have a father because my mom was an amazing parent. Thinking back on love I’ve experienced from her, when my mom woke up, I decided as if I was absolutely fine because I did not want her to worry about me panicking. But my tears would keep on covering my sight, blurring my mom’s face. I held my eyes tight and did not allow tears to fall down my cheeks. Noticing me turn away my face and pretend as if I’m not crying, my mom kindly whispered, “You’ve grown so much, Ye Jin. I’m really proud of you. Even if I die, I don’t think I’ll be worried about you. I love you.” And as soon as she said those words, I left the room. Well, I had to leave the room; my tears were streaming down my cheeks and I did not want her see me cry. Those words were so powerful; my mom, in the middle of pain, wanted to say those words to me. With that confession stuck in my head, I realized how stupid I was. My mom looked super strong in that hospital bed as she expressed her feelings freely. And I realized that there’s nothing stopping me to say those words anymore. Now I tell my mom how much I love her with confidence, and I've learnt from her how to treat the loved ones. More people around me seem precious and lovely.