My hero is my step-mother. She took my brother and myself in while my father, a U.S. Army soldier, had to spend long, hard hours away from the house as a recruiter. After being moved to yet another state, my father was deployed to the desert for 15 months but still my step-mom remained with us. As my father did his time away from home, my step-mom did her time at home, quitting her jobs to make sure she was home to take care of my brother and myself and standing by me even though I was determined to be as rebellious as possible. Never once did she lose faith in me. Nor did she ever, even in the tough "testing" stage that we put her through (me especially), turn her back or threaten to ship me off to yet another foster home or detention center.
This year I have signed my Army Reserve contract. I will finish high school and can see a future that does not include drugs, alcohol or jail, which, I am pretty sure would have been in my future if it weren't for my step-mom.
She has shed many tears over the last 5-6 years that we have been with her, yet not once has she ever given up on me or given up on showing me how truly bright my future can be. I have seen her cry tears of frustration due to my or my brother's actions, I have seen her tears fall due to feeling helpless when I have done something that could very easily get me into really big trouble. But the thing I can say I am most proud of: I have seen her cry tears of pride and love when I do things or say things that make her look at me and with just that look lets me know how loved and special I am.
This is my hero, my "step-mom", who, for all intents and purposes, is not only my mom, but the one person who I know beyond a doubt will always be there for me no matter what I do. In your list of values you wish for me to choose the one that fits her best, there are just so many I can and want to choose! But I will have to choose Love because I believe that one covers every value you have on your list.
Submitted by Anonymous
We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.
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