9 Unexpected Ways My Mom Helped Me Grow Up & Become The Adult I Am Today

I enrolled in piano lessons when I was little, and once I realized I wasn't going to be the next Mozart or Elton John, my mom allowed me choose my next move. I was a dancer for most of my childhood, but when I wanted to dedicate my time to the school play, she encouraged me.

She never made me stick with something I wasn't feeling anymore. This taught me that it's OK to change your mind and reroute your course. It happens, and you never know what's waiting for you ahead.

My mom always encouraged me to push myself in school. She knew my true potential, and always boosted my confidence by telling me I could reach it. That little push is why I go after the big dreams. I never settle for the easy route.

Sometimes, things just don't work out the way you want them to, and that's totally OK. Moving on from something that doesn't make you happy anymore isn't a failure, because my mom told me so. You're learning and growing, and it's all part of life.

My sister and I love each other, but sometimes, we have sisterly arguments. It's never anything too big — usually just a minor dispute over who a sweater actually belongs to. When it was something that could easily be worked out on our own, my mom let us handle it. This taught me how to resolve conflicts in a way where everyone can walk away happy.

Choosing the right college was a real turning point in my life. I am who I am today, because I had the opportunity to go to NYU and move to a new city. My mom encouraged me to apply to wherever my heart desired. I didn't have that movie moment of having to decide between my dreams and what my mom wanted, because my dreams are exactly what she wanted.

My mom was like a mom to all my friends. She always welcomed people over like they belonged, and that kindness is what I take with me into adulthood. I try to treat every new person I meet with the same respect my mom would give them.

The biggest struggle of my adult life is trying to manage all of the chores I have at home after an exhausting day at work and spending time with my friends. Luckily, I have every secret my mom passed down to me. I use her handy laundry 4-1-1 to make it easier, and when I'm cleaning up around my apartment, I hear her helpful hints in the back of my head.

I may be an adult now, but that doesn't mean I can't still be a kid at heart. My mom taught be that it's fine to have a little fun every once in awhile. She took me to Disney as a kid, and through her joy, I saw that life doesn't have to be so serious all the time.

I like to brag about my mom, because she's an engineer who worked on the first-ever GPS, and sends weather satellites into space. She's a true role model, and seeing her do it all showed me that I could really be anything I wanted to be. To this day, she still tells me that if I wanted to, I could be an astronaut.