My mother has been a constant source of inspiration to me. When I was young, she told me something I've never forgotten: "You can be anything you want to be -- but be the best at it."
I've seen her follow her own advice for years. She makes jewelry, and just today (when I called her for Mother's Day!) she told me how she is planning to rent a new space in the town next over to sell pendants, charms, and other accessories. I've seen her wear all kinds of hats: she's had businesses that focus on rubber stamping, food production, and card-making. She's happiest when she is growing and creating something, and even as I write this in my late 30s, I still look up to her because she is so enterprising with her talents.
When she was younger, her parents didn't support her like they supported her brothers. She has always been a creative spirit and grew up in a family that didn't always see the world through the same lens of art, music, and magic that she did (and does). Today, as a teacher, I try to put her advice into action every day. Some of my students are growing up in families that love them but don't necessarily encourage their creative ways of seeing the world. It's because of my mother that I do want to encourage them, to let them know that they should trust themselves and chase their dreams at the same time as they are chasing a practical paycheck.
I'm surely not the best teacher in the world, but I try to be because of what my mom said to me so many years ago. I hope and believe that my students are grateful that there's at least one adult in their life who will support their vision. I do it because of my mother and the inspiration she's passed along to me.