sjsprWriting

This is the last stanza from Peter Pan's "Your mother and mine", and every bit of it is true when I think of my mother Nilsa - except maybe in the heated moments of familial fights. But, seriously, she is my hero, and has been my whole life. Of course, through wonder-filled, sparkly eyes of youth most children see at least one of their parents as their hero - probably even as a real life Superman or Wonder Woman - but even as my eyes have jaded to some truths of adulthood and parenthood, Nilsa Santiago remains my heroine. I couldn't be who I am today without her example. For those of you who know her, she is a ball of pure energy and she focuses so much of that into helping others, always trying to do what's right and fair. I'll never forget watching her talk to Mr. Suarez about "Life Straws". I remember hearing the passion in her voice, the sincerity. Then she spoke to a few other parents at school, and suddenly Project H2O: Help to Others was real. She dedicated months to planning the mission, setting up donations, selling bracelets, marketing and advertising like the pro she is. Unsurprisingly, but ever so impressively, she and the others helped raise over $35,000 and accomplishing the objective of purchasing 5,000 life straws in order to provide a simpler way to give impoverished peoples in Africa a safer way to drink water free from parasites. You know who comes up with kind of stuff? Nobel Prize winners, Mother Theresas, and Nilsa Santiagos as it turns out.

Motherly influence is unavoidable. You are 50% Mom regardless of whether she is present for your life or not. Luckily mine has always been there to push me to the next level, to be the best student, but more importantly the best person I could be. I think she's done that. Like I said, I couldn't be who I am today without her example: the example of an utterly compassionate and selfless human being. I haven't yet come up with a brilliant non-profit business model, but I most definitely devote myself to my friends selflessly. I love the people around me, and my mom taught me how to genuinely care about helping people far and near, which is why I will be there for you no matter the circumstance, no matter the hour. I will be there with my whole heart to give for those who have added meaning to my life because my mother is my heroine and that is who she is and I love her as much as she loves the world.