“No!” . That is the only word my mom knows how to say to me when I ask her to buy me something. Every time my mom and I go out somewhere I always find something I like and I ask her to buy it for me. “How many times do I have to tell you to stop asking me for things? You are never going to learn.”, is what she responds every time. So I sadly put the thing back on the rack and walk away. She sees that it makes me upset so she tells me, “Fine, just get it and let’s go.” My mom only made it to the 6th grade. She is a very intelligent woman but unfortunately had to drop out of school to take care of her 5 little brothers. My dad was only in the 8th grade when he had to quit school to start working with his father. Both of my parents had a very tough time growing up. They had to give up most of their childhood to work and provide for their families. At such a young age they had big responsibilities they had to deal with. Till this day my parents still work so hard to provide all they can for me and my siblings. We are not the richest family but my mom and dad always find a way to buy me everything I need. Not only the things I need, but even the things I want that aren’t so necessary. I see them struggle sometimes which makes me not want to ask for much but my mom still buys stuff for me. Even through all the struggle my parents find a way to make me and my siblings the happiest. “You want to know how it was for me growing up?”, my mom asked once. In curiosity I answered, “Yes, tell me.”. “Sometimes we didn’t have enough money to buy food so I would go to the lady that sells fruit and ask her if I can have the peels so I can eat whatever was left on it.”. My heart broke as I watched my her eyes fill with tears and the words quietly come out of her trembling lips. “When I was around 8 years old, there was a point where my parents didn’t have enough money to buy me shoes so I would have to walk around barefoot.”, my dad said. “This is why me and your mom work so hard. So you don’t have to grow up the way we did.”. I was sad and shocked when my dad told me this. I didn’t know what to say other than, “Thank you for everything you and mom do for us. I appreciate it very much.”. “You’re welcome mija.” is what he always replies. My parents have been my number one supporters and motivators since day one. They have always encouraged me to do my absolute best in school and to pursue my education. I know when I’m doing bad in school they discipline me but it’s for my own good. My parents struggled when they were growing up. They didn’t get anything they really wanted. So now they work super hard to give us everything we want, even though they struggle a bit. Their hard work and dedication has inspired me to continue my education, go to college and become a doctor. That way I will have the opportunity to provide my kids with anything they want with no struggle. I thank my parents for everything they have done for me, including this life lesson. Other Projects - Careers in Education