APAs in the Elections & Endorsements 2002: San Francisco and California (Feature) Columbus Day Dissent Strengthens Solidarity Between APAs and Indigenous Peoples (in National News) Honda Opposes Bush Administration’s Force in Iraq (in Bay Area News) Fashion and Compassion (in Business) Lowell High School Wins First Place in Dragon Boat Championship (in Sports) From ‘Oriental’ to ‘Asian American’ (in A&E) Emil Amok: Don’t Be Fooled By Kung Fool Company (in Opinion)

My Mother, My Hero

“Who’s your hero?” This is a question that I have asked myself many times in life. A lot of people think that heroes are those people willing to give up their lives to save others. Many firemen and policemen save others from dangerous situations, and many have died doing so. While their acts are great, they are not my heroes. My hero is the person who is always there for me and who gives me attention and love all the time.

You are my hero forever, mother.

When I was little, I was not a healthy child. I got sick whenever the weather changed. My mother scolded me many times when I wanted to go out in cold or wet weather. She bought a closet-full of thick clothes for me because she was so afraid that I would get sick again.

One rainy day, I forgot to bring an umbrella to school and the rain was pouring heavily from the sky. I heard the sound of thunder and saw lightning every ten minutes. I couldn’t wait for class to end, but how could I go home when it was raining so hard? I didn’t pay attention for the rest of the period. I kept looking out the window and worrying. The weather did not improve at all, instead it got worse. Wondering what I should do next, I saw a woman walking very fast towards the school. It was my mother! She was carrying an umbrella for me. I felt very loved.

On another rainy day, I saw my friends playing in the courtyard by my house. It was slightly damp out but I decided to join my friends anyway. I ran out there and played jump rope with my friends for the afternoon, in the rain. I thought it was fun but I didn’t know that it would almost kill me. I got really sick after that. I had a fever, feeling both hot and cold. I was so sick that I couldn’t get up by myself. It was my mother who took me to the hospital.

My mother had to take days off from work to take care of me. She was so worried about me that she couldn’t sleep until I completely recovered. The doctor said that if my mother hadn’t taken me to the hospital, I might have died.

Because of those incidents, and many others, I realize my mother really cares about me. I appreciate what my mom has done for me. If it were not for her, I would not be as happy as I am in my life right now. I tell her everything that happens to me, including what is going on at school, what my teachers say, my personal feelings, and even about the special person that I like.

My mother never puts any pressure on me about school: all she says is “do your best.” She tries to solve every problem, even though there are some that she just can’t help on. When I have homework that I am having problems with, she can’t really help me too much. The reason is because she is not that well educated. Anyway, that is not a problem for me: we have a very close relationship. I feel glad to be my mother’s daughter.