Clarissa Ash

Me and my mom on the couch (I got this picture from my digital camera!)

My hero is my mom because I see her as a very strong and special figure in my life. She's had me since birth and has stuck with me through a lot. She had to go through a lot of pain to be with me because kids are always a strain to life. She saved me from so much, I can't even explain how special I think I am to have the life I have.

My mom is also a New York City teacher and a strong one. She's been teaching as an English teacher for more than 30 years. Me, I could never find the patience to even stand these difficult kids. I know because I'm stubborn myself so I get the feeling it's tough and stressful for her.

Throughout my mom's life she has had to take on the weight of taking care of 5 kids on her own. She was always the man of the house - even though my dad was there, he didn't share in the burden. But family is family and she stuck by my dad through all the pain. I didn't even know half the things she's been through because she doesn't look like it!

That's why I know she's my hero. To have been so strong and still be sane and strong for her five kids, she's someone I would like to grow up to be when I'm older. Yes we often get into arguments as normal people do but I love and respect her for her strong willed spirit. She never gives up! even if she's discouraged! she still finds some way to go on!

When I was around the age of 6 she almost lost me to a drowning in a lake in South America. As I was pulled out of the lake I could see the raw devastation on her face, I mean the color completely drained from her. I think I was her hope, her little joy and taking that from her..it's just not right because she was my hope, my joy, and she was an important part of my life. While i was drowning, she was the one who saw me and screamed out for help. She may not have saved me directly but she did it indirectly and that saved my life because no one else saw me go down. My hero isn't perfect but she means a whole lot to me!