Day 3: Education is important.

You might say that every parent tries to impress their kids with this fact. After all, education is important if you want to do something with your life. Unlike a lot of people, though, neither of my parents has a college education. My dad has some college, about a year’s worth, I think. My mom went straight from high school into the work force though. I remember as a kid grumbling because I hated learning my spelling words. Why did she make me practice, anyway? Her response was that she wished her mother had helped her with spelling words, but my mom had to do it on her own. By the time I reached high school I had surpassed my parents’ ability to help me with my math or science homework, but she was always there encouraging me.

Also, my younger sister, who is far too smart for her own good, took a physics class her senior year and had issues with the teacher’s teaching style. She had her friends, who were also in the class, over to our house often, working on their homework together, trying to figure out the assigned work from the books. Though it meant she had giggling girls invading her house several times a week, the girls were always welcome, adn the homework managed to get done. (I know, a miracle that four teenaged girls could get together and still complete their homework!)

My parents were in no position to pay for my college, but they always provided me with a vehicle so I could have a job at school, and have a way to come home. One year when I was especially tight on funds they even let me put a gas fill up on their credit card, and they always paid for car maintenance. This with four younger kids at home and a tight budget. Because of this and a combination of hard work and scholarships, I was able to finish my bachelors with no student loans. I always felt their support as I strove to complete my schooling.