Editor’s Note: The following is a submission from SDSU student Kevin Nguyen who wanted to share his Mother’s Day letter with the SDSU community. Please email all submissions or letters to editor@thedailyaztec.com
Dear Mom,
Today you will be exposed to many people celebrating Mother’s Day. You will see photos online of your friends and their kids going out. You will be serving customers at your restaurant to families celebrating their moms today. However, the thing you will not be seeing for the first time this Mother’s Day is me; but that is nothing to be sad or envious about because the point of Mother’s Day is to celebrate how moms, most importantly you, are special and I hope that this can be accomplished through this letter- even to a greater extent than any other gift that could be given on this planet.
As you know, I hand-write a letter to you every Mother’s Day and have always put a disclaimer that you cannot show anyone because it would make me seem corny. Honestly, after 23 years of age, I realized how foolish that request was and today I want everyone to know why I have the best mom in the world. Please do not take the word “best mom” lightly, as this is a fact from my perspective and nothing can ever make me think otherwise.
I have said many things and done stuff that you condemned, but I knew that you truly did not approve of. You have given me everything- freedom to live, make choices, and naturally develop into the person who I am. Even though I did not become a doctor or lawyer like your friend’s sons and daughters, you have raised a child who lives purposefully and allowed me to become a person who is open-minded. The liberation from any restrictions fostered me to become an anomaly to the norm. I understand that you sometimes wish that I could follow the norm, but it is difficult when I have been exposed to a large spectrum of life. Granted, I do want what the typical person wants- a beautiful and classy girlfriend and a nice home; however, the standards that you have set for me makes it impossible to showcase anyone to you.
What I hold dearest to my heart beyond relationships with family and friends is my happiness. My happiness is not crazy, but rather insane, passionate, loving, and ambitious. I want to be happy with my career, thus I moved to Los Angeles, the hub of the entertainment industry. Additionally, my happiness is so farfetched and ridiculous that some people may not be able to comprehend. In the future, I want to help people just like you have- I want to build a giant water park with loud speakers in Africa so kids there can enjoy something extraordinary. Additionally, I admire your spontaneous attitude and would like to surprise my future family, including you and dad, to a trip onto the moon because technology will allow it soon enough. Lastly, I want to be a class A lover like you and treat everyone with immeasurable love that goes beyond infinity.
As a mom, you have done a wonderful job in raising a child and there is no one I would rather be than myself. I graduated magna cum laude, held the title of president of Theta Chi fraternity, and landed a job in an industry that I am passionate about. Everything that I do will be done with love and that is the most valuable lesson that you have taught me. This is the first Mother’s Day where I cannot physically be with you because I am growing up- so be proud of that (it must be a relief not having me around too). However, you will always be the best mom and I will never forget anything that you have done for me. From pushing me on the swings when I was a kid to showing me that there is always love after heartbreaks, you have influenced me to become the best respectable young man that I can be. There are not enough words that can describe the love that I have for you- you deserve the world and I promise you that one day I will book you an itinerary to every city in the world- even Atlantis! I love you so much, Mom and I wish I was there with you today, but I hope that this letter can reinforce that. I love you, I love you, I love you, and happy Mother’s Day!
Everlasting,
Kevin Nguyen
