Janet King
MY mother, Janet King, is a brilliant lawyer who runs her own law office and she has been doing this for almost 17 years however the best thing about her is that she is a very loving mother. She is able to balance her career and be a parent to my younger brother and me, all while also finding time to care for herself. She is my biggest role model because she is patient and very dedicated in everything she does.
My mother was born in 1976 on the small island of Tinian. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, Tinian was a very undeveloped island. As a girl, my mom was quiet and spent most of her time at home, doing mostly reading. When she graduated from the 8th grade in Tinian, she was the class valedictorian. After that, she went to a boarding school on Guam. When she graduated from high school, she was at the top of her class, and was also the Student Council President. After high school, she was accepted to go to a very prestigious college called Wellesley College, where she began her studies in law.
Her beginnings were simple. Her parents did not have a college education, there was no library on Tinian, and she could not do many of the things that she now makes sure my brother Sammy and I get to do. She puts us in art and music classes, and pushes us to try hard in sports, all because she wants us to have the fun she never had. When she was little, she wanted to read, but books were hard to find. Whatever her mother could bring back from Saipan was what she read, even if it was not what she wanted. Her childhood shaped the kind of parent she is today, and I think she is an amazing one.
As a parent, she always says yes when we ask for books. Because she grew up with a limited amount of books, she knows how much they matter. She does everything she can to make sure we get the opportunities she missed. My mom inspires me every day not just because of what she has achieved, but because of how she loves, leads, and makes sure her children have the best life possible.
When I think about the kind of person I want to grow up to be, I think about my mom. I want to be hardworking and very thoughtful like her. She always considers many different perspectives before making a decision. She also shows me that taking care of yourself is one of the best ways to take care of others.
