I would not be the person I am today without my mother Erin. She is one the kindest yet strongest humans I have ever met in my lifetime. She deserves a great deal of credit for developing my love of sports. When my dad was busy with work she would be happy to play catch with me or even throw me batting practice in our backyard to help me improve my skills as a baseball player.
Erin is as big of a sports fan as myself. She grew up playing softball her whole life and has always been a fan of our hometown Boston teams. Her favorite being the Red Sox. I was not quite old enough to remember and celebrate the Red Sox breaking the 86 year curse of the bambino in 2004 however she made sure I knew the importance of it. As I grew older She taught me the entire history of the team, the heartbreaking losses over the years, and the best players in the franchise’s history.
Overall we have watched great games together throughout the continued success of Boston’s professional sports teams throughout the years. I will never forget when the Patriots were down 28-3 in Super Bowl 51. She was the only one in the family who truly believed the comeback could still happen. After the patriots miraculously completed the comeback Erin was jumping for joy like it was her first time seeing her time win a championship.
Outside of her love for sports Erin also is an extremely hard working and dedicated person. She gave birth to my brother when she was 19 years old and my sister a year later at 20 about seven years before I was born. During those years her and my dad worked multiple jobs between them to provide for their kids. Erin also began going to night school during this time so she could pursue a better career opportunity of being a nurse. Her dedication during that period of her life still impresses and motivates me to this very day.
She has been an RN for over 25 years and has worked in a variety of different environments from hospitals to schools. Erin has saved lives multiple times throughout her career even as a school nurse including stopping a seventh grader from overdosing. “School nurses do a lot more than just put bandaids on kids,” she said.
Erin is also known for her incredible wisdom.Her friends and family members are always seeking her out advice, myself included. She is very encouraging and understanding in whatever issue they are dealing with. When I started discussing my interest in ASU’s sports journalism program and pursuing a career in covering sports she said “It’s perfect!,” she said. “That’s right up your alley.” She continued to encourage me even when I had doubted myself and helped convince me that I was capable of pursuing this opportunity.
I am so thankful that I have had a mother like her for all my life. Whenever I have an issue that is causing me stress or frustration I know who to call. Even in the worst of times it seems she is able to find a solution in a matter of minutes. “That’s what I’m here for,” she said.
