I Almost Gave Up, But This Is What I Achieved While Caring for My Mom

There were so many times I felt like giving up.

Trying to balance everything, being a full-time caregiver for my mom, working, and going to school full-time, wasn’t easy. There were days I felt exhausted, overwhelmed, and honestly questioned if I could keep going.

There were nights I barely slept because I was taking care of my mom, and I still had to wake up the next day and show up like everything was okay. Some days I didn’t even have time to process how I felt, because I had so much responsibility on my shoulders.

It wasn’t just about being physically tired. It was mental and emotional too. There were moments where I felt stressed, frustrated, and even helpless. Watching my mom go through dementia and seeing the changes in her was one of the hardest things I had to deal with.

At the same time, I still had responsibilities outside of caregiving. I had to go to work, stay focused, and keep up with school. There were times I felt like I was falling behind, like everything was piling up on me at once.

But deep down, I knew this was something I wanted for myself. I wanted to finish school. I wanted to prove to myself that I could get through it, even when life felt heavy.

There were days I didn’t feel motivated at all. Days where I just wanted to rest and take a break from everything. But I reminded myself why I started. I reminded myself that this was bigger than just the moment I was in.

Being a caregiver isn’t just physical, it’s emotional and mental too. There are stressful days, a lot of responsibility, and moments where you feel like you’re carrying everything at once. Trying to stay focused on work and school at the same time felt almost impossible.

Still, I didn’t give up.

I kept pushing myself, even when it was hard. Even when I felt like I had nothing left in me. I kept going because I knew giving up would only set me back from the goals I had for myself.

And when I look back now, I’m proud of what I accomplished.

I made the Dean’s List.

I was nominated for Student of the Year.

I was selected as a finalist for the commencement speaker at Central Washington University.

Even though I didn’t make it to the final stage, I’m still grateful for the opportunity. Just being considered meant a lot to me, especially knowing everything I was going through at the time.

These accomplishments didn’t come easy. They came with a lot of sacrifice, stress, and hard work. But they also showed me what I’m capable of, even during one of the hardest times in my life.

I know I didn’t do this alone. My faith, my family, and the strength I found within myself helped me keep going. There were people who supported me, encouraged me, and reminded me not to give up.

I’m not sharing this to brag. I’m sharing this for anyone out there who feels like giving up.

Even when life feels overwhelming.

Even when you’re tired.

Even when it feels like everything is against you.

You can still keep going.

You can still achieve your goals.

Anything is possible.

This journey is still something I’m going through every day. It’s not something that just ends or gets easier overnight. There are still hard days, moments where I feel tired, and times where I have to remind myself to stay strong.

But I’ve learned to take it one day at a time. I’ve learned that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and it’s okay to take a step back when I need to.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that strength doesn’t always look the way people expect it to. Sometimes strength is just showing up, even when you don’t feel ready.

And no matter how hard things get, I’m going to keep on going.