Posting my Quora Q&A on "What is your life changing moment that makes you want to study?" Also Happy mother's day for my mom as she was the main reason. Mother's are the most important person for every child.

For me, it's my mom. She spent tremendous amount of time taking care of how I studied, what I studied. She stayed awake late night, created notes, tutorials for me without sleeping. She would feed me before the exams so that I don't lose concentration while studying. She would sleep with me so that I can wake up early during exams even until my age 14. She was never like the other moms of my friends back in junior school who would go talk to the teachers to get suggestions, rather every time I would do bad, she would sit with me to teach me better, she would herself read all my topics, understand everything, made it easy for me. She would investigate so that I learn not only just to pass my exams, but also really learn things by heart which will be stuck with me. I used to hate mathematics, even though all I do now is related to mathematics, she would spend hours until I understand a math concept. She would never give up, sometimes making me crazy. She got me into reading literature, writing, she used to read travelling books, she was a dreamer. Even though my dream was quite different than what she wanted me to be( a doctor actually, but I pursued math, computer science, now earth science), she became very successful in making me a dreamer, a challenger, someone who is not afraid, who never gives up, who breaks but ultimately stands up again. She taught me very well that life is not bed of roses. I am as emotional as her, as expressive as her, as crazy as her. Sometimes I intentionally try not to become like her.. haha. Her life itself was so challenging, coming from a small village to becoming a professional medical surgeon, dragging my dad from the same village to become successful together, later on to teach medical college students in the best medical college in my country. But, because of her dedication for me, my dad, my siblings, her siblings and our family members, she sacrificed her career several times. She could be a full Professor by now, but she put our wellbeing and educational development above all. I probably have hurt her more than anybody else, I still argue with her all the time, but in the end I know who will always be by my side no matter how much I fuck up. She gave her life savings that I used for me and my ex girlfriend so that we could pursue PhD in a different challenging environment in USA. I do a lot of things which may not be accepted by her religious ideologies, somewhat dogmatic controlling attitude, but I know she loves me more than anything else. She loves me in her own way which can be bothering often times, but given that I know everything I have achieved, even learnt to refute her, was because of her. If it was not her, I would probably still be in a small village doing small stuff. She made me dream to chase for the best I could be with my potential. I did my bachelor's in Japan, then I wanted to come to US for my PhD; she never put any familial pressure on me, she encouraged me to pursue higher studies, she encouraged me to choose the toughest economically not very comfortable path so that I can become a scientist, she encouraged me to always be honest, never lie, work hard no matter how much challenging it is. I am now doing a PhD in a field that she doesn't even understand, but yesterday on mother's day, when I called her, she asked me to explain my research to her and she listened all the convoluted complex stuff that I do now. She wants me to be religious which I can never be, she wants me to be a lot of things that I can never me, but on the other hand I have become a lot of things that she wanted me to be, an educated, intelligent, compassionate person. My moments with her, my memories of her pushing me to study, emphasizing on education, seeking for knowledge were one of the greatest reasons I want to study. I know I will keep giving her love with good achievements and distress with the things that she is incapable of understanding due to her knowledge, limited experiences, but I love her a lot too in my own way. Thanks for bearing me Mom. And I know that she will always be with me and will never leave me. May be my sister too. That knowledge itself has made me survive during my bad days. We are emotional sensual being, and these assurance and love really matter. Happy mother's day mom.

I will appreciate if you upvote my answer on Quora if you actually liked it. Thank you.
[quora.com]