She is my role model because I admire everything she does and has done. Both of her parents have passed, she’s an only child and she is still a strong mother. She has eight kids and has taken care of six of them by herself (I’m No. 5). She has been an independent woman most of her life when her parents weren’t there for her.

In July of 2010 she was diagnosed with colon cancer and was only expected to live for the next three months.

When she was first diagnosed, I did not want to believe it when she told me. I went through a stage where I didn’t really want to do anything but be with my mama, kind of keep her to myself.

I also knew that her diagnosis meant that I would have to step up and start helping to care for my younger siblings.

Since then, she has been through two different major surgeries and has been on and off chemotherapy for the last two years. It has been hard seeing my mama at her weakest. She has always been there for me when I needed her, even at my lowest points in life. I told her I was going to drop out of school, because I have no one to make proud. She convinced me that she would always be proud of me. She said I make her smile.

She further influenced me to stay in school by reminding me that I will be the second person in my family to graduate from high school and the first one to go to college. After high school I plan to go to N.C. A&T University to attend nursing school, then later to medical school to become a pediatrician. I want to set an example for my younger siblings by letting them know you can do anything you want to if you put your mind to it. Just like my mom.

I may not get what I always want when I want it, but my mom makes sure I always get what I need when I need it, even if she doesn’t have it. In fact, my mom takes care of everyone. She makes sure everybody has a roof over their head and that they are safe and secure.

Right before school started my cousin’s mother kicked him out, so my mama took him in. She was also struggling to get our school supplies, but she managed to save and scrape up every dollar she could, and my siblings and I had the school supplies we needed.

I know I make a lot of mistakes, but I learn from them and my mama always understands. She always tells me I remind her so much of herself when she was growing up. Marilyn is not just my mother, she is my best friend. We can talk about anything like when I’m feeling down or excited.

She is the only parent who is there for me; she’s taught me so much and helped me become the intelligent young lady I am today. When I was growing up, I saw how hard it was for my mama to take care of all of us in a two-bedroom house. She struggled a lot and I told her when I become a doctor in a few years I’ll get her anything she wants because she deserves it.

She has put up with a lot of obstacles I don’t think I would be able to put up with. She had to stop working two years ago, so we have definitely been struggling, but we all help each other out especially when my mama gets tired and can’t fight any more. I love you, Marilyn Brown.