As I sat around and reflected on my past week, normally there’s a moment that jumps out at me. It’s either something that made me super happy, or something that really irked me to no end that I couldn’t stop talking about it for days. Then I realized, my break was filled with the one thing that has been constant in my life for the past three or four years: Work.
I would call myself a workaholic, but I don’t know if I actually classify within the true definition of one. But what I do know is I have been a worker since I was 15. By the time I was 17 I was working two jobs, one five days a week and the other was anywhere from three to five days. Weekends weren’t a thing unless I requested off or if somehow I was blessed with a day off by chance.
This past week, I spent all four days of Thanksgiving break working. I know it sucks sometimes being away from family during some precious moments, but knowing I’m making money for myself and being able to repay my family for everything they have given and blessed me with makes it all worth it.
I think I became a workaholic because work is what my family does. My mom works from seven o’clock in the morning until three o’clock in the afternoon and my dad works from nine o’clock in the morning until five o’clock in the evening. My parents both grew up in homes where money wasn’t thrown around and spent on anything other than what was needed to get by. My dad wore my aunt’s hand-me-downs and my mom lived off cheap meals with her siblings. With both of them growing up like this, they knew they wanted more for their children, which explains why they both work their butts off to be where they are in their careers today. Their hard work has shown me and inspired me to become the type of worker I am today.
To this, I have to thank them. Not only for working so hard to make sure I have everything I could have ever asked for growing up, but for teaching me to work for what I have. Everything I have been given “is a privilege not a right” as my mom would always say. To my parents: I want to work hard and pay you both back for everything someday. I want to give you the world and then some to show you how much I appreciate everything.