This sentence alludes to José Olivarez' mother, specifically his childhood with his mother where he doesn't know anything yet. Therefor, everything is possible. Aside from that, This also helps with understanding the content of the topic in which the three people are discussing.

This is meant to say that he is the person that takes charge of his life and no one else. Also, by not using capital letters at the beginning of the sentence(s), it allows it to seem more intimate and less professional, scripted.