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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Erika Esola Wins
Erika Esola Wins
May 8, 2002
Boca Raton, FL - Erika Esola captured the inaugural Florida Atlantic University Mother's Day Essay contest. 250 people submitted entries detailing why their mother deserves to be honored as by FAU on mother's day.
Erika's mother will receive several autographed FAU athletic department items along with an autographed baseball jersey, as well as season tickets for baseball, men's and women's basketball and four tickets to the 2002 season opening football game. She will fit in with the rest of the Owl fans wearing free hats, t-shirt and other small items.
The following is Erika's award winning entry:
My mom is a very special person. She is an incredible mother because she makes being my mom her number 1 priority in her life. She has always made sure that I am provided with everything I need to grow up in a happy and healthy environment. She strives to do her best in providing me with all that I need, from the basics to food, shelter and clothing to the "over the top" things like sending me to the best schools possible, camps, vacations and any extra curricular activity I want to be involved in. She also acts as a positive role model in my life. She shows me how to be a good caring and loving person by example. All that she does, she does in my name or with me in mind.
My mother has always made me, her only child, her primary concern. She has made all decisions, many difficult ones, with me in mind first. I know that there were many things that she had to pass up on that she may have wanted to do, because of me. There were many different career choices she would have made had she not had to take me into consideration. Never once has my mom complained about this. She simply says that she chose to have me and is devoted to me and my well being. A specific recent example of my mother making the ultimate sacrifice for me is when we moved here to Florida. I know that this was a very difficult decision for my mother. She was born and raised in New Jersey, where she had lived her whole life. Her entire close knit family, consisting if her parents, 4 siblings and nieces and nephews all live in New Jersey. When she and my dad decided to move to Florida, it was to provide a better life for me. I know that my mother struggled with the decision. She was forced to leave her whole family, and move to a foreign place, where we knew no one and had no family. My dad was offered a better job in Florida and my mother knew it was the right thing to do for me. This way my mother could provide me with so much more. This move has proven to be so difficult at times for mom. I know she misses her family, especially at holidays. Most recently, my mom has missed out so much with her family. You see, on 9/11/01, her oldest brother, my uncle John, was killed in the World Trade Center attack. My mom has had to endure this pain with out being with the rest of her family. I know that she wishes she could be in NJ to help out.
This is one of so many other sacrifices my mom has made for me. She works really hard at two jobs to provide for me. She could very well just work one job, but she works two so that she can offer the very best for me. She never lets me go without anything. I do not tell her often enough how much I appreciate this.
My mother also does her best to provide a good example for me so that I will grow up to be a good person. She just does not tell me what to do, she shows me by example. She always goes out of her way to help other people, especially those less fortunate. She volunteers her time at the YMCA, helping out with the little kids, and brings me along sometimes to help out too. I use to fight it and not want to go, but now I love it. My mom showed me that helping others can be very rewarding in so many ways. She is also very active in our church, as a Eucharistic minister. She does her best to act as a good Christian in all that she does, and expects the same from me. She is also active in the "Council of Catholic Women" an organization whose aim is to help those in need. Since my mother does so much volunteer work, it makes it easier for me to do. I learned from my mother that helping others is the best way to spread love in the community. Without her example, I would still be complaining about having to do community service.
In short, I feel my mom is an incredible mother because she does the best she can to ensure that I grow up to be a good, productive, happy person. Think about what a great world it would be if all moms took the time to build their children's self esteem like my mom does. I know that I am blessed to have such a special mother. I will repay her for her efforts someday by growing to be just like her.
-FAU-