(18, NJ, USA) Nicholas - A Darker World Without Mom

My mother's body had shrunk to a mere shadow of what it once was, and her once-luscious hair had gotten thinner. This gradual transformation was my reminder of the passage of time, and the inevitability of life’s changes. Imagining a world without my mother was difficult to swallow. If I have learned anything, it would be that life has a way of throwing things at you when you least expect it. One word changed everything for me. “Cancer.” The bond I shared with my mother revealed the beauty of life; that one person full of love, could smile through the midst of darkness. Being my mother’s caretaker, I learned how to appreciate the little things in life that seemed so insignificant before. After her passing, I realized how grateful I was to spend time with her, care for her, and to appreciate even the most mundane things. 

I had taken a step back from everything in my life. I quit my club swim team. I barely showed up to work. And, I missed months of high school. I made all of these sacrifices to take care of my mother, and to spend the most time with her that I possibly could. Even outside of being her caretaker, I always put others before myself, and threw myself towards the chaos of my environment to protect others. All to feel that feeling again–the feeling of protecting and caring for someone. I promised myself to carry on my mother's legacy of strength, love, and perseverance in her honor. As far as her strength, I may never be as strong as her. But, I have continued to train myself both mentally and physically to make her proud. Right now, I am just a high school student with a dream of being someone. Attending high school classes, working twelve to twenty hours a week to meet my financial obligations, and helping aid my father in relieving his stress around our family's financial situation. 

Nothing stopped my mother from fighting cancer. So, why should the time that was taken from me stop me from achieving what I want? I want to be able to help those who struggle around me as I once did. I now understand that time is precious. Time continues to move forward, and with that continuation, I should seek out every opportunity and pursue all aspirations that I have in my life without looking back to the past. This is what I believe will define my mother’s legacy.