Timothy Lin

My grandmother is the strongest woman I know.

My grandmother is the strongest woman I know. Having movement difficulties since young because of Polio but having to take care of 5 other younger siblings, losing her husband when my mother was just a baby, and losing my mother (her only child) when my 2 siblings and I were very young children, she push through these phases of her life with so much tenacity, ensuring that the children under her care during those phases were given the best she could offer. Being a heart patient, she defeated the odds and single-handedly brought up my siblings and I, taking care of minute details of our lives as children while ensuring we were disciplined and brought up with proper values. She made sure we always came home to home-cooked food and a safe haven. A fiercely independent woman, she strives to take care of herself and us, even in her lowest moments. Even when hospitalized, she will try not to trouble the nurses and tries to take care of herself, much to the dismay of the nurses as she is a heart patient who is more than 80 years old. She has taught me many things, from traditions and values of the Teochews and our culture to important life perspectives and wisdom. Always equipped with words of wisdom and encouragement, as well as a sense of humor, perhaps the most important thing she has taught me is to have faith in myself. She always encourages me to see the best in myself and reminded me that we should always strive to do our best, not the best. We should keep pushing ourselves beyond our limit but should not trouble ourselves with the standards of other people. Her difficult life with her persevering spirit of excellence, together with her love despite my mum leaving us at a very tender age, as well as her reminders to anchor ourselves in proper values, and to outperform ourselves and be contended have made me who I am today. I have a good role model for me to emulate and anchor myself to. People around me commented that I am a very giving person. The reason I can give so much is because of her giving to me. Thank you Ah-ma, you are the best of me.
Timothy Lin