What moment in your life was your proudest?

United States
February 5, 2008 11:57pm CST
After the disaster of Hurricane Katrina my son who was about 9 at the time went from house to house looking for canned goods to aide the victims. He then went to the school and ilicited help from his principal to ensure that there were Red Cross cans in every classroom. No one asked him to do this. It was something he started all on his own. Because of his efforts the principal asked him to give a speech on "Back To School Night". He rehearsed his speech, but then forgot it at home, so he stood before all those people and without words in hand gave the most eloquent speech I could have imagined. I couldn't believe that I was looking at my son and I remember thinking that he was going to be one of this countries Presidents. That was one of my proudest moments. What was yours?
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11 responses
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
6 Feb 08
My proudest moment would be the time when I stood my ground infront of everybody in our class when I talked back to a well known teacher at school who was also among the Student Discipline Coordinators, proved her wrong of her accusations against me. ^_^
• United States
6 Feb 08
Oh I'll bet that was a proud moment, it must have taken alot of courage to stand up to someone in her capacity. Good for you.
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@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
6 Feb 08
And I was the silent type during that time ^_^; Maybe most of those who saw it happen or heard it from here-say now see me as a ticking time bomb.. but honestly, I merely defended my side.. well, at least I could recall a proud moment, even though most would consider it a rebellious act :p
2 people like this
• United States
6 Feb 08
I don't think I would have considered it rebellious at all particularly since you were able to prove yourself innocent of something you were being accused of. Thats called standing up for what you know is right and defending your own honor.
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@sminut13 (1783)
• Singapore
6 Feb 08
for me, it's nothing that great. it is one of those moments where the parents feel really proud of their children. i think it was easter or something then. my son who was in nursery class was going to be performing together with his classmates. i knew that he was anti social you could say. but he did have a few friends and dancing was also definitely not something that he did. he didn't want to dance at all when we prompted him to at home. so that day, when his class came on the stage and they did 2 performances, he was actually dancing along with his friends and seemed like he was enjoying a little with the singing and all. it was just a small thing but i swear at that moment, my heart was really ready to burst with pride. i have heard of people being overwhelmed with emotion and could only guess and imagine how it felt. but that time, i finally experienced what it truly meant.
• United States
6 Feb 08
Don't say it was nothing that great, because it was. Anything that makes you feel like you did in that moment is a great and wonderful thing. If your son was having a hard time with socializing and dancing, he took a huge step that day and I imagine that I would have felt the same way. It really was something to be proud of.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Feb 08
He will be more social as time passes. I was just looking at a report card for my son from kindergarten yesterday and he was considered antisocial and not prepared emotionally for kindergarten, so we held him back a year. You ought to see him now. He is one of the most friendly people you'd ever want to meet, has a heart of gold. Yours I'm sure will be the same. Just wait and see.
@sminut13 (1783)
• Singapore
6 Feb 08
thanks for your kind words. looking at it that way, it is something great. it's just that to others, i felt that it would be something ok i guess to them as they have achieved other greater things to be proud of. but still, i am proud of that. he's still not that social but he is beginning to talk more with the teachers and friends. he's still young so i'm hoping as time goes by, he'll be better. of course at home, he's still the king of the castle. grins.
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@balasri (26537)
• India
7 Feb 08
I am a PTA member in my school.Having seen the callous nature of the drivers and parents in parking their car haphazardly I formed a parking committee and volunteered to stand there if the parking lot regulating the traffic.As most of the members excused themselves of the duty I am regulating the traffic in the parking lot single handedly for the past three years for fifteen minutes every morning after dropping my child in the class.I have been appreciated by almost all the parents and when some of the big shots in the society wishes me Good morning with that guilty feeling in their eyes it becomes my proudest moment.
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• United States
7 Feb 08
A true activist. Someone that wants to get something done and does. Good for you. You should be proud.
@balasri (26537)
• India
8 Feb 08
Thanks a lot friend.Proudness is only the byproduct of my nature of not able to witness the irregularities in day to day life in the society.I hate being a mute witness..
• United States
8 Feb 08
Well thats just the kind of person it takes to make necessary changes and not everyone has the ability to stand up and make those changes. However, you did and you should be very proud as I stated.
@gloria777 (1674)
• India
6 Feb 08
The proudest moment in my life was when I became a father for the first time.
2 people like this
• United States
6 Feb 08
Indeed that is a moment of great pride. I remember when my second son was born and they layed him on my chest. I have never again felt the feeling that I felt at that moment. It was completely euphoric, so I can totally identify with what you are saying.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
6 Feb 08
The day I got the last signature on the title page of my dissertation and packaged it all up to send off to be microfilmed. I wonder if they still have to do that? My husband took a picture of me taping up the huge box. Of course, just like almost everyone else I had nightmares for about 5 years afterwards where I would be running to some class or another and get up to the door and find out I'd left my textbook at home, or I'd wake up thinking I forgot to take one last class and had thus missed the submission deadline. Finally I realized all the i's had been dotted and the t's crossed and the "terminal degree" was mine and nobody could take it away, ever. Oh, and I decorated a T-shirt with this word: PHinisheD.
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@drannhh (15219)
• United States
6 Feb 08
Thanks, the 17 years it took were a big chunk out of my life, but I've never regretted not picking an easier major. Hey, I'm proud of your son, too. Often the best speeches are the ones that come totally from the heart. I hope we do someday get a president who can talk out of his own head instead of reading aloud speeches that somebody else wrote for him. That would be a breath of fresh air.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Feb 08
17 years is a very long time, but I can see where you would never consider them ill spent. Thank you for recognizing my son and his accomplishment also. You never know he just might be wearing a PHinisheD T-shirt one day or perhaps his name will be on a future election ballot
• United States
6 Feb 08
Thank you for sharing that. I can imagine how proud you must have been then and how proud you still must be. This is a great accomplishment and I respect you for your efforts. You certainly deserve it.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
6 Feb 08
The proudest moment of my life so far was when I resigned from my work and nobody expected me to do. As you can see, I was holding a big position in our unit and just like anybody else with the same level of mine were all sir yes sir to the one on top even if they can see that its wrong already. I did resign giving up everything that I've worked for, for many years. At the time that I resigned I have nowhere to go, no money, no job. Yet I was able to stand up and here I am now. I am not saying that I am rich but, I survive. Its the greatest feeling ever! I can see my fellow comrades still in the same position before, like servants in a castle. But no, not me. I stood up and I succeeded. And up until now, I am still proud.
• United States
6 Feb 08
I have experience with the military, which I assume you are referring to and yes you are right there is alot of bowing down, shall we say. It sounds as if you are happier now than you have ever been and getting ourself to that place in our lives is a huge thing.
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@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
6 Feb 08
The proudest moment of my life was for one of my own achievements, sorry to sound selfish but after nearly drowning twice I decided to pluck up the courage to combat my fear of water, so I got my best friend to teach me to swim, I was 18 at the time and he was very very patient, and finally after weeks and weeks of getting me back into the water and pushing me I finally learnt to swim it was the proudest moment of my life to be able to get back into the water and swim! Now you can't get me out of the water, that is my most memorable proudest moment of my life the day I swam unaided and I swam just a length but it was in deep water.
• United States
7 Feb 08
Thats a big one. Facing your fears is very difficult to do and absolutely you should give yourself every credit in the world. I can particularly identify with your fear of water, because I almost drowned myself. I had learned to swim because my mother made us go to swimmming lessons in the summer, but once that incident happened I have been hesitant to get back into it.
@dstrent (112)
• United States
10 Feb 08
I would have to say that my proudest moment is coming out of boot camp. This is something that I thought I could not make and I did. It was a challenge but graduating there and seeing my parents and how proud they were and still are of me today makes everyday that I serve my proudest.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Feb 08
And I would have to reply that you should be proud and that speaking for all of in the United States we are all extremely proud of you also. Thank you.
@ellie333 (21016)
6 Feb 08
It is our children that tend to give us these moments and so often that there isn't one moment that really stands out amongst the others, but I remmber one time when my middle daughter who at the time was about 10 had been out to have a pizza with friends for her birthday and they boxed what what left for us to take out - she walked down the street with her box and noticed a homeless person promptly asked him if he would like some pizza, to which he replied yes and handed him the box, bless. My everyday one is that all three of my children tell me each day that the love me, either in person, on the phone or by text. I count my blessings. You must be son proud of your son, what a little gem and to be so giving at such a young age. Thank you for sharing Ellie :)
• United States
6 Feb 08
My oldest son was like that, always giving to the homeless or being concerned about them. My son which I mentioned in this post took his teacher aside the other day because he didn't like the remarks people were making about homeless people in their classroom. Sometimes children have more compassion than adults who can be a little jaded at times.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Feb 08
WOW That must have been a very proud moment for you, I would have been very proud of my son if I had one too. I dont think I have a proud moment... Well not that I can think of at the moment.
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• United States
7 Feb 08
I'm sure you probably have, perhaps you just aren't giving yourself enough credit. Thank you for the kind words regarding my son. I continue to be proud of that little rascal.
@yannycui (376)
• China
21 Feb 08
My proudest time was when my daughter was standing on the stage of TV station. She is such a genius. When the host asked her who is her most favorite person, she said she loves me the most. And she told the host how hard I was to be a single mother. She is such a cute tiny baby of mine. Listening to her words, I couldn't keep my tears. It was hard for a single mother to bring up a kid and teach her well. I have to work very hard to make enough money to support her education and pay the bank. Now she understands what I have done. I am so proud of her.
• United States
21 Feb 08
Thank you for sharing that touching story. Children are probably the one single thing that makes us proud above all others. And I know what its like to be a single parent. Its not easy, but it sounds like you are giving it your all and doing a wonderful job. You should be very proud of yourself also.