Rohan Vora, Grade 11
UWCSEA (East)
My go-to answer for ‘someone who has inspired me’ would have been one of my icons, Christopher Hitchens, my favourite actor, Robert De Niro. However, after some recollection, I feel that my mother has truly been the largest influence in my life.
Brought up in a small town in the Indian state of Gujarat, my mom has skills quite unknown to our digital world. She has a unique relationship with nature, and spending hours in the garden walking or observing wildflowers is a habitual routine. In the house, we have a spot called the ‘motherly garden’ which teems with various India-centric flowers. She has a certain disregard for the television, and one would seldom see her in front of a screen, but seeing her practicing yoga early in the morning, or following her SoFit regime in the evenings is commonplace. Even in turbulent times such as these, when sitting and watching Netflix would be the ideal scenario for me, my mother pushes me to exercise regularly and interact with nature, whether it be long walks in the neighborhood or jogs in the garden. She helps me be my better self.
Having been in a Rajasthani boarding school for a long period in her life, she has always possessed the great quality of independence as well as discipline. The discipline part can get a bit harrowing, as even on holidays, she expects my sister and me to wake up before 10.30 and make breakfast. Her independence, on the other hand, has taught us how to remain emotionally strong and optimistic. During my first week in boarding school, I was extremely miserable as I missed home terribly. Daily calls to my mother helped calm me down - she would tell me to remain positive about the coming school year, she would explain to me the importance of being in a boarding school and the great memories she’s had, and most importantly she would tell me to toughen up and find my ‘inner strength’. Throughout my life, she’s not only been a motivational speaker of sorts but an anchor that helps in keeping me grounded and tranquil. She inspires me to strive to be placid and focused, even in the most difficult of times.
Taking care of my sister, my father and I, I’ve come to the conclusion that my mother is superhuman. Between my sister’s tantrums, my father’s stubbornness and my immaturity, my mother has constantly held the family together and helped each one of us during taxing times. She sets the tone of the house - After coming home from an SAT paper that had gone well, but not too well, my mother reassured me that everything was going to be okay, she helped me remain calm. In another instance, after my sister had a tough day at school, my mother would sit down with her and listen to all her problems. It’s because of her presence and her eternal words of wisdom that the ebullient atmosphere in the house doesn’t erode… she inspires me to be caring and tolerant.
‘Humans tend to be creatures of comfort’ states the archaic adage; my mom is an exception to this proverb. She goes out of her way to make our lives better whether it be sacrificing her Friday nights, where she would go out with her friends, to research various colleges for me or spend hours organising my sisters and my ‘lunch schedule’. Other than this, food in the house is forever exotic and delicious. Instead of making traditional Indian food on a daily basis, my mother would cook us a truffle souffle or a mushroom risotto. Placing my hand over my heart, I can state that if it wasn’t for my mother, I would starve.
Since the age of eight, my mother has been my teacher. She would sit for an entire day, endure my screams, teaching me the basics of math and reading out the Mr and Mrs series to me. She has taught me how to be empathetic, kind and caring, but at the same time, remain vigilant and strong. My mother has been my moral compass throughout my childhood and reminds me to be so. Even though I may not always show it, the more mature I get as I grow older, I realise my mother’s importance and remain grateful for her.
Brought up in a small town in the Indian state of Gujarat, my mom has skills quite unknown to our digital world. She has a unique relationship with nature, and spending hours in the garden walking or observing wildflowers is a habitual routine. In the house, we have a spot called the ‘motherly garden’ which teems with various India-centric flowers. She has a certain disregard for the television, and one would seldom see her in front of a screen, but seeing her practicing yoga early in the morning, or following her SoFit regime in the evenings is commonplace. Even in turbulent times such as these, when sitting and watching Netflix would be the ideal scenario for me, my mother pushes me to exercise regularly and interact with nature, whether it be long walks in the neighborhood or jogs in the garden. She helps me be my better self.
Having been in a Rajasthani boarding school for a long period in her life, she has always possessed the great quality of independence as well as discipline. The discipline part can get a bit harrowing, as even on holidays, she expects my sister and me to wake up before 10.30 and make breakfast. Her independence, on the other hand, has taught us how to remain emotionally strong and optimistic. During my first week in boarding school, I was extremely miserable as I missed home terribly. Daily calls to my mother helped calm me down - she would tell me to remain positive about the coming school year, she would explain to me the importance of being in a boarding school and the great memories she’s had, and most importantly she would tell me to toughen up and find my ‘inner strength’. Throughout my life, she’s not only been a motivational speaker of sorts but an anchor that helps in keeping me grounded and tranquil. She inspires me to strive to be placid and focused, even in the most difficult of times.
Taking care of my sister, my father and I, I’ve come to the conclusion that my mother is superhuman. Between my sister’s tantrums, my father’s stubbornness and my immaturity, my mother has constantly held the family together and helped each one of us during taxing times. She sets the tone of the house - After coming home from an SAT paper that had gone well, but not too well, my mother reassured me that everything was going to be okay, she helped me remain calm. In another instance, after my sister had a tough day at school, my mother would sit down with her and listen to all her problems. It’s because of her presence and her eternal words of wisdom that the ebullient atmosphere in the house doesn’t erode… she inspires me to be caring and tolerant.
‘Humans tend to be creatures of comfort’ states the archaic adage; my mom is an exception to this proverb. She goes out of her way to make our lives better whether it be sacrificing her Friday nights, where she would go out with her friends, to research various colleges for me or spend hours organising my sisters and my ‘lunch schedule’. Other than this, food in the house is forever exotic and delicious. Instead of making traditional Indian food on a daily basis, my mother would cook us a truffle souffle or a mushroom risotto. Placing my hand over my heart, I can state that if it wasn’t for my mother, I would starve.
Since the age of eight, my mother has been my teacher. She would sit for an entire day, endure my screams, teaching me the basics of math and reading out the Mr and Mrs series to me. She has taught me how to be empathetic, kind and caring, but at the same time, remain vigilant and strong. My mother has been my moral compass throughout my childhood and reminds me to be so. Even though I may not always show it, the more mature I get as I grow older, I realise my mother’s importance and remain grateful for her.
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