I grew up in Houston, Texas. I remember my mom cooking three meals a day in a hot kitchen and then serving my brother, father and myself in the tiny living room, the only air-conditioned room in the house. She did everything for us, always putting our needs ahead of hers, and getting very little thanks for it. She shaped my personality, my thoughts, and how I would live my adult life. I wouldn't take in ironing for the neighborhood, I wouldn't put groceries back from my cart because I had miscalculated how much money I had been given, and I would grow to be my own person. I wouldn't settle for less than what I wanted.