A Fork in the Road

  “Hello,” My mom’s voice on the other end was just what I needed to hear.  However, now that I made the call, what was I going to say?  “Hi.  Just wanted to call and tell you that I packed my bags by the door, and I need you to come pick me up?  I’m walking away from my so-called friends here at school?  My class schedule is more challenging than I had planned?”  At a time like this, no words seemed to convey the empty, hollowness in the pit of my stomach.  Well, I had to come up with something, but the only thing that I was able to choke out in between tears was, “Hi, Mom.  It’s me.”  When I had calmed down a bit, I poured out my problems to my mom.  I even resorted to begging her to come and pick me up.  She was the perfect mixture of assertiveness and optimism and refused to come and get me saying, “Give it time.  Don’t jump to any rash decisions that you may later regret.”  At the time, this was not what I wanted to hear.  I was mad at her outright refusal to come and rescue me.  Reluctantly, I said goodbye, and ended up sticking it out.  Fast-forward ten years, and I am still indebted to my mom for her resolve that day.  During that moment, she stood up for the future version of myself. I would have missed out on an internship, friendships, and countless other moments, had I chosen the quick escape.  This was a tough lesson at the time, but one, which has impacted my life and memory, and has shaped the woman I have become.  

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