Michelle

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. She is your one and only beloved sister.


There are a variety of ways to define the word hero. To some it might mean "A person who voluntarily gives themselves without expecting anything in return." To others it might mean "A man or woman who devotes themselves entirely to their cause, and expects nothing for what they are doing." To another it might mean "A maverick of sorts. One who tries to stand out— sometimes resulting in being made a complete fool by doing so. It can also be someone who chooses to forge their own path." Many heroes go unrecognized in their lifetime. It’s not always the big things that define one as a hero. My sister, Michelle, may not fit perfectly into any of those categories, but she is however; compassionate, considerate, tolerant, beautiful, never-judging, creative, motivational, supportive, and most importantly, loving. In my eyes SHE is the true definition of a hero.
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Here’s a little insight into the life of the woman that I consider as my hero.

Q: Who inspires you to be the person you are.. Who do you live for?
A: My children. They are everything to me. They are the reason I wake up each day even when I’d rather not. They are the reason I live.

Q: What obstacles have you surpassed and how have they shaped you?
A: Family drama and financial issues have been some extreme struggles that I’ve dealt with. As much as I hate to admit it, they kind of tie-in together. It’s been really hard, but I’ve managed over the years. The problems haven’t completed been fixed, but I’m trying and I thing that counts for something.

Q: When did you realize that your issues were significantly affecting your life?
A: Addiction is a terrible thing and I became addicted to one of the worse: gambling. It’s difficult, that’s for sure. A lot of the time I don’t get the support I need, but I’ve made progress and I hope that soon I’ll be on the road to complete recovery.

Q: Where did you grow up and how has that molded you?
A: Growing up in the Philippines is a big reason for why I am the person I am today. People there were all about respect, modesty, and humility. I feel that those are some big qualities that describe my character. Being raised in such an environment, it’s hard to live any other way.

Q: Why do you strive to be the person you are?
A: I want to set a good example for my kids. I know that I don’t want them following in my footsteps because I’ve made some tremendous mistakes, but for the most part I act as well as treat others in a way that I hope one day my children will see and take recognition of. I want them to see me as a good person that they can be proud of.

Q: How do you continue to remain optimistic when at times there seems to be no hope?
A: It’s tough, but I always manage to find some sort of thing to hold on to. Like I said earlier, my kids are everything and they give me hope no matter how bad a situation might seem. My son and daughter never let me forget that everything happens for a reason and that in the end it will all be ok because if it’s not ok then it most certainly is not the end.

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Life’s tough, and unfair. Regardless of the honesty of that phrase my sister has persevered and overcome obstacles in her life that no one would be able to relate to. She has never allowed anything to push her down and continues to be an absolutely wonderful person despite the worse of situations. She is truly amazing, and that is why I consider her my hero.