17 is full of possibilities.
My son, you are more than I could ever have imagined. As a single mother, I feared you. Raising a child was not what I expected to be doing at 22. You interrupted my life. It seemed so full on the outside. But it was all a facade.
Having you made me realize what true love really was. The fairy tales had it wrong. Prince Charming and I would not live happily ever after. That was not true love. True love was pulling all nighters with an asthmatic child. It was watching you struggle and holding my breath till you drew yours. True love was not a fairy tale. It was my baby child.
As you grew, so did I.
We attended college together. I at 25, with my little boy by my side.
It amazes me still to see you now. You are my “Manchild in the Promised Land”. And, poverty did not hold you down.
17 is invincible.
As a child, you told me, you were scared to walk ahead. You wanted me to stay by your side. You said, “Don’t leave me Mommy. I don’t want to be alone.” I recall holding you tight and whispering, “I’m right beside you.”
Now the years have passed, and you, my son, have grown. At 17, you graduated from high school, started a new journey, and moved several miles from home.
17 marked the year of invincibility. You were no longer scared to walk alone.
17 is fearless.
“Fear was the number one immobilizer of potential; fear of failure, fear of being too much or too little… just fear across the board. I saw it freeze people, I felt it freeze me.” – Karl Rivera
At 17, you learned that lacking fear does not make one courageous, the ability to face it does. And so you faced it head on. Accepting new adventures, you started a house in college called LIFE, an acronym for Leadership & Innovation Fuel Empowerment.
Leading by example, you have shown me and others that 17 is more than just 17 birthdays.
17 is a milestone.
Let’s talk! What do you recall most about being 17? Share it in a comment below! Added benefit, EVERY comment provides a vaccine for a child so that they can reach a milestone of their own.
This post is inspired by Shot@Life, an initiative of the United Nations Foundation that educates, connects and empowers the championing of vaccines as one of the most cost effective ways to save the lives of children in the world’s hardest to reach places.
During Shot@Life’s Blogust, 31 bloggers, one each day in August, are writing about moments that matter. For every comment on this post and the 30 other posts, Walgreens will donate a vaccine (up to 50,000 vaccines). A child dies every 20 seconds from a vaccine-preventable disease. We can change this reality and help save kids’ lives!
Sign up HERE for a daily email so you can quickly and easily comment and share every day during Blogust! Stay connected with Shot@Life at www.shotatlife.org, join the campaign on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
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What an amazing young man and mother! Just shows what love and caring can do.
17 for me was moving to a new country, becoming more independent, starting a new phase in my life….scary and exciting at the same time.
What an interesting story. Inspirational.
jsw
Migdalia, you have done an outstanding job raising your kids and I know it hasn’t been easy. I recall being 17 and how it was a turning point in my life. 17 taught me about resilience, independence and the value of true friendship. Love that you’re a part of Blogust!
Jeannette, that means so much coming from you. Gracias. And, I am honored to be a part of an amazing initiative with #Blogust, Shot@Life and Walgreens.
And here goes another vaccine! Un abrazo, amiga!
Yes, 17 are full of possibilities! All the best to you and your manchild son!
Such a great story! Your son has worked out quite well so far, although his life has really just begun. You have good reason to be proud, of him and of the great job you’ve done in raising him.
17? Wow, that was so long ago. At 17, I only thought about one day at a time & had no future plans. I didn’t realize that my own life would change drastically by having my one & only child at 18. She has been my saving grace. She changed me for the better, became my reason for living, became my best friend & my inspiration! I must have done something right by her because she did not follow my footsteps by becoming a young Latina mother also. She has broken the mold. She recently received her graduate degree in clinical psychology & is a MFT intern. I am a proud mama!
17 is awesome!
17 was attending Harvard as a freshman, living away from home for the first time, being surrounded by school and kind strangers. It was working cleaning bathrooms to have spare money, spending my summer doing two part time jobs, and having medical vertigo for over three weeks straight. It was Awesome in all aspects of the word.
And 18 brought fear that almost kept me from one of the greatest experiences of my life: interning at Biosphere 2. Thankfully, my friends and Mom were smart enough to push me on, and I was able to face the fear with their support.
Beautiful story!
Beautiful story of true love!
Age 17 was actually my favorite year of being a teen! I was a senior in high school and really enjoyed that time of new freedoms and possibilities for my future! I remember having a lot of fun at that age. Great post!
Great story. Each child is special and seeing them grow to almost by not quite adulthood is a rewarding experience. There are times of happiness and also times of trouble, but seeing them survive all of that is truly enlighting.
You must be so proud, thanks for sharing!
Oh I have a 19 year old about to head off to University and I’m well aware that her life is just so ‘full of possibilities’. Thanks for sharing!
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Missus Wookie I love watching as they realize the world is their oyster!
I’m inspired! Thanks for sharing Migdalia!
Thank you Rebecca for commenting and donating a vaccine!
Sounds like both of you have done a lot of growing up together.
Ruth We did 🙂 I found myself when I had him.
Cool!
Beautiful and inspiring!
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Thank you for being involved with Shot@Life! And thank you for sharing your journey with your son!
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At 17, i think i was still dressing Barbies and designing my clothes that my mom will then sew for me. And getting in love platonically ( for many years after this). What a beatiful post, Migdalia. God bless you and your lovely boys!
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!
great post for a great cause. Thank you for helping Shot@Life and Walgreens to provide vaccines for children in developing countries.
17 was finding independence in having my first real (non-babysitting) job, and being trusted to drive with friends in the car! But it was also when I realized that I needed to respect all of the effort my parents had put into myself and my siblings!
Migdalia, this is really special. What a lovely post. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Erin! I am so honored to be working with #Blogust, Shot@Life and Walgreens on this campaign.
Trying to synthesize the importance of 17 to me, but decided it’s impossible. I’m just incredibly grateful! Thanks for supporting Shot@Life.
I remember thinking I knew how the world worked, and realizing now I still only slightly understand.
As your son ages, he will treasure this post. I can feel the love pouring out of it!
17 – I thought I could do anything!
Carole R I think we all did!
Thanks, nice post.
At 17, I too set out to make it on my own. At 17 I didn’t realize exactly how nieve but strong I was. I struggled a lot. I cried a lot. I worked a lot and studied when I could. I made it!
I remember a lot of things about 17, but the most devastating was the loss of my father. His death was unexpected and left our whole family fl0undering. I give my mom a lot of credit, she picked things up and got us all moving onward and upward. It’s not that we weren’t still sad but we learned we could do it, could survive even after losing my dad. She managed to send four kids to college and never complained–kudos to my mom.
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nancy vecchione I am so sorry you experienced your father’s loss at such a young age. Your mom sounds like an inspiration!Thank you for sharing your memories at 17 with us!
This blog brought a tear to my eye and the concept is so cool. Good on you Latina on a mission! At 17 I was very into the GAIA club and Amnesty International. Infact at 16 I asked for 1 year sponsorship of a child rather than getting a ‘present’. Those days feel like yesterday and yet I’m turning 40 next month!
Natalie C-W – What an inspiration you were at 16 and still are – Thank you so much for commenting and providing a child with a vaccine!
Natalie C-W I love it! You were an inspiration thn and I am sure still are!
Wow, he’s achieved so much! Sounds like you both have.
GR – We def. grew up together 🙂
What an incredible age! My son just turned 18 so I know this all too well.
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Carla Isn’t it an amazing age? I love looking at the world through their fearlessness! Btw, love your name. My Teen’s name is Karl 🙂
Thanks for sharing your emotions!
Gemma Jeva Thanks for reading 🙂
Love It ! 🙂
Dolly Navina Lakra – Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your story! Every child matters!
Thanks for sharing your story! Every child matters! 😀
Lynda @MommyPowers I agree! Thanks much for commenting!
Great post. Thanks for supporting Shot@Life
Steph And thank YOU for commenting!
First Shot!@Life story about a guy. Great job Mom and best of luck to your son in college and with LIFE.
Thank you Netta Conerly for commenting and for your well wishes!
At 17, I was gaining a ton of knowledge, but I think it was right about then that I fully realized just how little I knew. Obviously, it’s a big world with a lot of amazing things. One day, we’ll be able to add “End of polio” to that list of amazing things :]
Colleen I totally understand! Now that I’m much older, I know just how little I knew at that age.
17 was mt first job, learning more about what I needed to know than anything I’d received in high school (some schools aren’t very good.) And paying for my own Atari 2600 of course… 😉
Thanks for supporting Shot@Life!
Al Denelsbeck Seems like you had many firsts at 17! Love it!
17 is such a great age
sean ishum I agree!
Really enjoyed learning about your life; very inspiring. All the best to you!
Darryle Thank you!
Here’s to the vaccines!