Kayla Burgess

The person I admire, respect, and look up to the most is my mother, Karen Burgess. She raised me all by herself, while at the same time working full time as a technical writer; she had to play every role in the family for me. Throughout my whole childhood she always put me first above any of her own desires. She was at every t-ball game, gymnastic meet, ballet recital, play, musical, lacrosse game, and anything else my crazy self was involved in. If I wanted to quit something or start a new hobby, she was always there to support me 100%. When school started becoming more rigorous, she would drop everything she was working on and quiz me until I felt confident with what I was studying.

But she didn’t do any of this with hesitation or out of obligation. She did it out of unconditional, selfless love. If there’s one thing my mom has taught me over the years, it is how to truly love another. A lot of who I am can be attributed to the way she raised me. She has taught me so much about integrity, faith, and personal values, through her words as well as her actions. When I start my own family I hope that I will be able to be even half the mother she was to me. I am forever grateful for her and love her with my whole heart!