Undergraduate /
"All I need is loved ones, good health, and a stable environment." - Find X Chicago [3]
The prompt is simply "Find X" Feedback, spelling, and grammar corrections would be greatly appreciated! Thks I feel like the ending is not very good.
Individuals meander though life, trying to discover the piece that will make them whole, and happy. For some, finding "X" is obtaining wealth, a soul mate, or a lifelong career. For me to "Find X" I would have to find a person. This missing variable in my life, is my mother. My mom was rendered homeless four years ago due to a gambling addiction. Addiction is a stigma for homeless people, but hardly are they portrayed as neighbors, friends, or parents. People may see her on the street, dirty, and alone, but "that homeless woman" they might point at, is the missing "X" in my life.
Whatever generosity, or kindness lies in my heart, Mom aided in bringing it out as she raised me. Born in Cambodia, she and her family came to America to escape starvation, and war turmoil. Consequently, my mom would stuff my plate until it was completely covered in food, and make me sit for hours until I finished it all. She would yell at me if there was one spoonful of rice in the trash. Mom was strict, in order to teach my bothers and I a lesson. Where my mom was brought up, a spoonful of rice could of meant the difference between life and death. She taught me to never take what I had for granted, and I never did. When I was given money as I kid, I would give it all to charity, just as my mom had.
In the second grade, I saw a homeless person for the first time, during my vacation in New York City. The homeless man had been rummaging through the garbage. I wanted to give him money, but unfortunately I did not have any. Instead, I gave him my leftovers from McDonalds. I had then hurried on to my folks, so I would not get lost, but I realized my mom had been watching me the whole time. "What's wrong?" I had asked her. She had been looking hard at the homeless man. Mom pointed, and made me witness other people giving to the same homeless man I gave to. "I watched them notice what you did. And now they want to give to." Honestly, the few people did not seem happy to give him pocket money, but they still did. Leadership is the word my mom used. She told me I was someone who people followed through example. It was then that I was inspired to lead others to do good deeds.
Often, the two of us would talk about our future goals. My mom said the title of her book, if she ever wrote one, would be, "The Irony of Life". Mom wanted to write it about coming to America to seek a better life, yet ending up homeless because of poor decisions. After she told me about her book title speculations, she gave me a necklace. It first belonged to my grandma, who was the reason my mom and her brothers survived the war. The necklace is a reminder of my grandma's sacrifices for her children. More importantly, it is a reminder of my mom's confidence that I will better utilize the opportunities America has. My mom wanted me to be able to achieve the education, and success she did not.
Despite my mother's current circumstances, I know she is the one responsible for my generous heart. Its her who inspired me to lead people to do good deeds. My mom taught me to never take things for granted, and to utilize the opportunities that are available to me. She also, indirectly, gave me a lesson on materialism. Everyone has a missing variable that will make them whole. I know who the missing variable in my life is, and "Finding X" is one in the same.