This isn’t my usual type of post, but today I want to talk about someone very special to me. My mom, Katie Kuduk.
She was someone who taught me how to be a good person. She was always there for me, someone I could look up to no matter what. I miss the days when I could talk to her about how I was feeling or cry, and she’d be there to comfort me. She would always say, “You’re too handsome to cry.” I know it sounds a little silly, but it always made me feel better. Instead of focusing on what had just made me sad, it helped me focus on how I could start feeling better.
She had a way of making every room brighter. She made people laugh, smile, and feel welcome. People wanted to be around her, and I always wanted to be like that.
I remember telling her that, and she gave me advice that has stayed with me ever since. “Just be your best self and keep being you.” Those words have never left me. They taught me that the most important thing is to be authentic, to never pretend to be someone I’m not just to fit in or make other people happy. Being yourself is enough, and that’s what makes you special.
Today marks five years since she passed away from an overdose, and the pain is still there. Sharing my story is important to me because I know there are people who have experienced similar loss, and sometimes those stories go untold or are misunderstood.
If sharing this reaches even one person, whether it’s in a classroom or among thousands of people, then it’s worth it. I hope my mom’s words stay with you the way they’ve stayed with me.
Be your best self, and keep being you.
