Inspiration is something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create; a force or influence that inspires someone. When I think of somebody inspiring me, I just think about my father and my step mother. They always reminded me of a quote from Langston Hughes that read “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird,that cannot fly. ” So every time I want to give up on something or held my head down, I reminded myself that I have a dream; if I let that dream die, then my life will be nothing.
There were many quotes that I grew up hearing from them, and to this day, I still put them to use. I studied the quotes and deciphered them every day as I went along, and I remember just thinking “My father and Mama Sherry told me these things”, and I know they would never tell me anything wrong. Growing up, my father and my stepmother have always been a huge inspiration. My father taught me how to love, he taught me how to take care of home first, he taught me everything I know and I am not sure where I would be today without him.
In addition, my stepmother, Sherry, stepped up to play a mother role for both my brother, Adonis, and I. I was three years old when “Mama Sherry” stepped up to the plate as a mom in my life. She has always been a huge supporter in everything I do/did, from crying loud as a freight train because I did not want to sit on the potty, to letting my hair fly with the wind while playing basketball. Mama Sherry and my father both encouraged me as I was growing up to stay in school, and that I can do whatever I put my mind to.
Even though my father was more lenient than Mama Sherry, he always kept me on the right track; they both shared an understanding that they wanted the best for both my brother and I. When it came down to school, basketball, and band, my father and Mama Sherry made sure I was on top of everything. I guess behind every person that is looking up at someone and recognizing them as a role model, or an inspiration there is a story to tell right?
Well, I can say that growing up without my real mom being there was hard. However, looking up at Mama Sherry to play her role inspired me to always be there for my kids (when/if I have them), to show them the ropes of life, to be an inspiration to them. Not only because my real mom wasn’t there but also because Mama Sherry showed me life and how to deal with things that I probably would have been given up on. Mama Sherry inspired me to be the best I can be at everything I do and to never give up.
Living in a home with separated parents, it only made me stronger and made me appreciate the greater things in life. Nothing comes easy, school wasn’t easy but I hung in there due to my father and Mama Sherry inspiring me that I could do it. Basketball is my life, but there came times where I wanted to give up and never turn back and as you’d expect; my father and Mama Sherry were there to coach me through it all.
