Autobiography of My Father

Elbert Frank Cox was born December 5, 1895 in Evansville, Indiana He grew up with his parents, maternal grandmother and two brothers. Elbert F. Cox was born and raised in a college town in a racially mixed neighborhood, but at segregated schools. In fact, his father, a school principal, had graduated from Evansville College and had done graduate work at Indiana University. Raised in a close knit and religious family, Cox learned the importance of education and fostered a talent in mathematics. During his life, he overcame various difficulties which arose because of racism. When young Elbert demonstrated unusual ability in high school mathematics and physics, he was directed toward Indiana University. With all the separation and hardship and strife around him at the time it inspired him to strive for a better education. At high school Elbert showed talents which made his choice of career a difficult one. He was a talented violinist but also showed remarkable talents in mathematics and physics. Cox was awarded a music scholarship which would have enabled him to travel to Europe to study at the Prague Conservatory of Music. His love of mathematics won and he entered Indiana University.

His father, Ernest, greatly influenced his life, both as a child and today. Many of his character traits he said his father taught him. He described his father as a hard-nosed, strict man with a soft heart.

One event that defined a part of my life that involved literacy was when I had to write a

1. I packed only casual clothes for my trip. A pair of jeans, two T-shirts, and a sweater.

Comparing to his life before, he borned in a rich family, had a plantation in Brazil, he should have the life that makes most people feel jealous but he never satisfied and always feel unpleasant about his situation. Now he realized this thing and started to thanks what God gave him, his life in island seems even better than before, because thankfulness can make people get satisfied even in a poor situation.

It was a normal day Brayden, Seth and I just got done with basketball practice. We were wondering if we had plans for the remainder of the day.

My father is profoundly wise in the topic of athletics. He knows more ways to get stronger, faster, or even more flexible than anyone I have ever encountered. Putting this knowledge with my determination, we made a rigorous workout plan that we would do at home every single night. One note to make, is that my dad was not forcing me to do these workouts in any way. He asked me if I still wanted soccer to be as exhilarating as it was when I was younger, then I needed to put the time in to my craft every day. Soccer is in my blood, and I was not ready to give it up yet. The workouts were composed of mile runs on the treadmill, medicine ball exercises, and leg strengthening drills. After the preliminary week of this aspiring effort to to achieve

“Prove them wrong” When I was in fourth grade my dad and brother and I were playing basketball at our house, to help my brother practice. I had never played basketball except against my brother, Brayden. My dad would always be our referee and it was a lot of fun. Even though I never beat Brayden. Brayden didn’t think I was very good, and he would have to play easy on me instead of playing as well as he could have played. It really annoyed me I wanted to be as good as him or better because I wanted to actually have a chance to be better than him at one sport.

The day I found out my step dad, Greg, had cancer is still etched into my memory. I was in the 7th grade at a basketball game. I was sitting on the bleachers, cheering loudly for our team when my mom came and sat down next to me. Her eyes were bright red and puffy. It was obvious she had been crying so I asked her what was wrong. I remember exactly what she told me, “I need to talk to you. It’s about Greg; He has cancer.” Short and simple, straight to the point. Who knew three little sentences could change your whole life? I definitely didn't.

“Ya son las Cinco y media,” is what my dad would say to me everyday during summer. We would go up to Redlands to this avocado groove to pick avocados. Under the big, tall, leafy trees we would work until our bodies couldn't take it anymore and needed a break. We would work under the hot scorching sun, our faces dripping in sweat until 3:30. I would always get home tired knowing the same thing was waiting for me the next day.

the eldest of five children. He began school at home and was taught to read and write

My father showed up to my graduation late missing me walk across the stage receiving my diploma, but I still love him. When I was younger we had a normal father daughter relationship until Valentine’s day of 2009 when he left. My mom left the house and business to get away from their toxic marriage. They soon got a divorce and ever since then he hasn’t been an active reliable father. Years passed, and I was still holding on to hope that he’d someday will re-enter his three-daughter’s life but hope soon vanished when he did not attend anything he should’ve as a father, call to check up on us or send not only monetary support, but support in general. My mother and father had a great relationship I would say before the divorce but of course

My father was a lifeguard, but not in my lifetime, so maybe loving the ocean was in our blood. As children we grew up in Brooklyn and we would go to Riis Park for our day at the beach. One very distinct memory is of my father as he stood waist deep in the ocean with my brother and sister; the waves periodically lifted and dropped them in the water at his side. Waist deep for my father meant it was well over my head so I remained a safe distance (or so I thought) behind them. Suddenly, a wave appeared and and before I could turn and rush to the shoreline the ocean attacked. I found myself in a world of foam, pockets of air allowed me to breathe as I was tossed about like

Ernest inherited the temperament and artistic talent of mother and the looks and sporting skills of his father. Both parents, when he was a boy, were foes of dirt and disorder. They brought up their children to follow strict schedules, stand inspection and be scrupulously neat and tidy.

I was born and raised into a hardworking family that are the complete opposite of culture alienators. My siblings and I are all first generation in America on my mom's side and second generation on my dad's side. Life was very hard for my parents to raise all seven of us and depended on my grandparents for most of their help. Being that my grandparents brought all nine of their kids to America from Belize it was also very hard for them so survive and find stability. Most families that come to America from a third world country usually find it very difficult to keep up family traditions and sometimes lose all contact. My family found a way to stay very close and keep the Belizean culture very alive still to this day. As you can tell by now