My Autobiography: a Tale of Resilience and Strength

I once heard a quote by Sharon Jaynes, it said “Successful mothers are not the ones who have never struggled. They are the ones who never give up, despite the struggles”. When I hear this quote, I feel like it is referring to my mother and my own life experiences. I have been raised in a family of four children by a strong, single mom. I cannot think of any other event that has shaped me into the person I am today as much as this experience.

As the only daughter with three brothers, witnessing my mom raise us successfully by herself has taught me many things. The most significant lessons I have learned is that I can take any situation and make the most of it by focusing on the blessings rather than the hurdles, happiness does not come from stuff, and I am capable of accomplishing anything I desire, if I am passionate enough and committed enough to make it a reality.

Overcoming Struggles: Lessons from My Mother

I have never heard anyone raised by a single parent confess to having had an easy life that did not consist of some struggles, especially with a large family. I am convinced the difference in those who establish a successful story verse those who fall victim to the situation is their outlook. I know first hand how easy it could be to focus on all the things that I am missing out on, or the challenges my family faced on a regular basis. However, I was constantly reminded that I had so many blessings in front of me that even some two parent families and even wealthy families would be jealous of. I had the unconditional love of my mom which I witnessed daily as she put my brothers and myself as her top priority. I witnessed her work hard, never miss an event or game in our lives, give up sleep and make time for us daily, always putting her kids before herself. I witnessed daily how blessed I was to be loved so much and so deeply. I have been taught that I can find blessings in any situation with the right outlook and that outlook itself can be the difference between success and failure in life. I am thankful for these lessons because as I use this mindset in my own life, I will continue to create a successful life for myself and my future family.

The Real Source of Happiness: Beyond Material Wealth

Another lesson I have learned as a result of being raised by a single mom is, that happiness does not come from stuff. It would come as no surprise that because we only had a single income that our resources were limited because we still had the expenses of a double income family, and many kids in addition to that. That left very little resources left over after the utilities were paid. But looking back, I don’t feel like I missed out on anything. In fact, I look back and see how my mom tried to create memories in place of buying us things. I grew up finding free, creative experiences, or at least extremely cheap activities, that the entire family could enjoy and make memories. We would camp, visit a beach, play at the park, etc. Anything that allowed us to get out of the house and have fun as a family. As I have gotten older, I realize how selfless that was of my mom, considering she had enormous amounts of laundry and housework to complete on her two days off each week. Instead she spent the time with me and my brothers, and completed those other tasks after we went to bed. Once again giving up her own sleep in order to make sure we felt valued and important. I have never questioned my mom’s love, nor have I ever felt that her family was not her priority, and that is more valuable than anything object or toy she could have purchased.

Autobiography Essay Examples: Developing Strength through Adversity

Finally, and maybe most important, I have learned that not only was I raised by an extremely strong mother, but I myself have become a strong female as a result of her example. I have learned that life can throw a person curveballs, and that is normal. It is how I choose to respond to those curveballs that define me. If I allow those obstacles to throw me off course or interfere with my life goals, then I have given it too much power over me. Instead, I have been taught to look at the situation as a method to make me a stronger person. These obstacles are there to help me find areas in my life and personality that I can make improvements. They also gauge my dedication and passion for my life goals. Will I give up and allow the obstacles and challenges to throw me off course? Or will I push through and stay dedicated and passionate about a goal?. If I chose to continue on the path I had envisioned for myself, then nothing is impossible. My mom has taught me that my strength comes from those defining moments when I chose to push through the challenges and stay the course, and then and only then will my goals be achieved. I have seen this method work every day of my life when I witnessed my mom’s dedication and passion for her kids, helping her push through every challenge she faced as a single mom. I have seen her become a strong, successful woman, which in turn impacted me and helped form me into the strong, confident individual I am today.

Conclusion: Gratitude for a Life Uniquely Shaped

Overall, I would never wish the struggles of a single family on anyone, but if the obstacle does arrive, then I know success is still possible. I know that as I get older and grow into adulthood that I am well equipped with a deeper understanding of what I am capable of. I cannot determine if these lessons would have been learned had my parents not divorced, but what I do know is that I am appreciative of how I was raised and the lessons that I learned as a result of the situation I was placed in, as well as the example I witnessed and experienced from my strong mom. She has shaped my life and impacted my future more than she will probably ever understand. All because she took a bad situation and created a great life for me and my brothers by staying focused on the blessings, understanding the importance of time and memories in exchange for stuff, and teaching us to stay focused and passionate on our goals regardless of the obstacles. And for these lessons, I will always be thankful.     

References

1. Jaynes, S. 2007. Retrieved from "The Power of Woman's Words".

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