biograph
When my parents first came to the country from El Salvador, they came with dreams and hopes of establishing better lives- not just for themselves, but for the families they left behind. Soon, they had five children of their own, myself included. We did not grow up in the best of places, but even though we lived in the midst of gang wars, heard shots at night, saw fights all around us, my parents managed to make an alternate reality for us- bringing us up in a home full of love instead of a broken home.
We did not have money for day care, and with both my parents working full time to support us, I began to care for my siblings at an early age. My parents depended upon me, upon my being a responsible person, and I was. Looking back, I realize that I grew up a lot earlier than most because of the responsibility I was given. I grew up with a strong sense of leadership because, even if you are just babysitting your four siblings, nothing will hone down your leadership skills than getting four hyperactive kids into bed by nine, although I can honestly say it maybe only happened on-time once.
My parents grew up in El Salvador in homes where due to economic and political instability, they only completed 4th and 5th grade. As a result, my parents instilled the great importance in education from an early start. Not learning English until I was seven, I learned English by reading the dictionary my father gave me so that I could learn new words and vocabulary. It was always “A’s, B’s or nothing.” However, even that was difficult. I have had no one to help me with my homework since the fourth grade when I realized my parents could not do long division. This led me to work with increased determinations to grasp all of the material so that I would not run into problems I did not understand.
Economically, we never had much. That was always a given. Where most people would complain and consider themselves unable to get through life, where there is will, there is always a way. Both my parents worked double jobs until I was fourteen. Seeing how hard they worked for every cent our family, indirectly instilled in me the value of a dollar. Once I began working, they always advised me to save it, and I always have.
My past is hard to limit to 500 words but my family is my life. Through all of our obstacles and limitations, I have built character and morals that I don’t think I would have had if life had been a patch of rainbows along the way. I have built leadership, responsibility, academic excellence through dedication, and frugality through these. As the future lies ahead, I cannot be more excited, and hopefully like my parents dreamed for their families, be able to provide a better life for MY family.
We did not have money for day care, and with both my parents working full time to support us, I began to care for my siblings at an early age. My parents depended upon me, upon my being a responsible person, and I was. Looking back, I realize that I grew up a lot earlier than most because of the responsibility I was given. I grew up with a strong sense of leadership because, even if you are just babysitting your four siblings, nothing will hone down your leadership skills than getting four hyperactive kids into bed by nine, although I can honestly say it maybe only happened on-time once.
My parents grew up in El Salvador in homes where due to economic and political instability, they only completed 4th and 5th grade. As a result, my parents instilled the great importance in education from an early start. Not learning English until I was seven, I learned English by reading the dictionary my father gave me so that I could learn new words and vocabulary. It was always “A’s, B’s or nothing.” However, even that was difficult. I have had no one to help me with my homework since the fourth grade when I realized my parents could not do long division. This led me to work with increased determinations to grasp all of the material so that I would not run into problems I did not understand.
Economically, we never had much. That was always a given. Where most people would complain and consider themselves unable to get through life, where there is will, there is always a way. Both my parents worked double jobs until I was fourteen. Seeing how hard they worked for every cent our family, indirectly instilled in me the value of a dollar. Once I began working, they always advised me to save it, and I always have.
My past is hard to limit to 500 words but my family is my life. Through all of our obstacles and limitations, I have built character and morals that I don’t think I would have had if life had been a patch of rainbows along the way. I have built leadership, responsibility, academic excellence through dedication, and frugality through these. As the future lies ahead, I cannot be more excited, and hopefully like my parents dreamed for their families, be able to provide a better life for MY family.