My Father Of His Brother

I can say with confidence that each member of my family has taught me something that I have incorporated into the personality that I present to the world today. My brother had developmental delays as well as ADHD and that truly tried the patience of both of my parents. He was unbelievably challenging to grow up with for a myriad of reasons that I would rather not delve into, but with my mother’s constant belief in him and my father’s expectancies of him, he eventually grew up to be a social, humorous, and wicked smart Berkeley attendee. He certainly tried my patience as well, but all the tears that I wasted on his incessant teasing and taunting when I was little gave me the ability to deal with so much more in the real world than I ever thought I could have, and I realized there is no way to escape frustration in the world; you can only learn how to deal with it, and my brother’s issues taught me how to do that early on, which I am now surprisingly grateful

Growing up my dad didn't have the best childhood. Even with a rough childhood my dad still succeeded in life. He got a good job and started a family. When ever we ask him why he sacrifices so much for us he simply says,"I want to give you a better life than I had". My dad has given me the best life I could have ever asked for.

When I turned sixteen, my dad bought me my first car. Regrettably, I wrecked it not even a month later. In need of a vehicle for work and other after school activities, my dad bought another car for me, which became my brother’s when I bought a newer car. My father also put me through soccer, band, choir, and cheerleading because he saw the best in me and did the same for my brother with soccer, baseball, and band. He attended every competition and game he could as long as work would allow him the time. Every summer he takes the family to a lake cabin in Minnesota for vacation. In Minnesota, my dad taught me how to bait my hook, catch a fish, and how to filet one. Who knows how long my dad tried to teach my brother and I how to string a fishing pole or tie a fishing knot.

When I look at my dad, I can see accomplishment beaming from him. He grew up with my grandparents in South Texas, who were migrant workers. They didn’t supply the best of income, so my father grew up with the bare minimum and basic necessities, with 5 younger brothers and sisters. During high school, my father struggled a bit with grades and family issues. After graduating, he decided to join the military, since school was not his best interest and felt he had nowhere to go. He would explain to me how he would barley pass his classes with D 's, since D 's were considered passing at the time. For eight years, he served for our country in the Navy. Soon afterwards, he met my mother, began dating, and eventually got married within a year. Another year passed and that’s where I came in. Soon after my father with no job, after

Outside of the military, he worked for nuclear power plants, and earned a Professional Engineering Degree “PE” in electrical engineering, and had taught himself enough to be able to get one in mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering. This allowed him to find work almost anywhere, and when his salary no longer was able to pay the bills for my 4 brothers and sisters, that became useful. My mother took a job with a company that made her move to Pennsylvania only a year later, and my father was eager to leave Decatur Illinois anyways since it was a dieing city, losing most of its

From the time I was born until the age of twelve, my family struggled with the basic necessities of life. My father worked endless hours in a factory, and yet somehow came home with a smile on his face. As a young kid, I never knew we were struggling. The thought had never occurred to me. As I got older I started to realize that my single father was working his life away to care and provide for his two little girls. He completely put aside his well-being because as long as his girls were cared for, nothing else mattered. Life was never easy, but as a young adult today, I have come to accept that my background has been a prerequisite for greatness, for it is our backgrounds that define who we are. The way we are raised, the way we are taught to believe, and the way we are taught to act, make us who we are today.

Aside from religious and ethnic challenges he faced, being able to learn from what his parents experienced while they were growing up helped to shape the way he is today. Growing up in areas that were not ideal and moving to a better place, was one manner his parents were able to help ensure that he would be given better opportunities than they had. This allowed him to make the decision to leave his parents and join the military. Which, while rough, has given him his present situation.

He was put to the test, having to deal with impossible tasks and work (Warren 76). One of his family survived (Warren 117-118), but a lot of people didn’t (Perrett 1). Nevertheless, he was faced with many challenges that made him want to give up, he was able to persevere. Without the thought of his family waiting for him when he escaped, he wouldn’t have made it (Warren 105). One might believe that this means that whatever life throws at you, you can overcome as long as you believe in the positive side of life.

From a very early age my Dad had taught me resilience. I didn’t even know what that word was as a little girl, but I knew exactly what it meant. Never giving up. The way your character grows, the different perspective you see things, and the content feeling of accomplishment. My Dad inspires me to go above and beyond expectations, and has always told me to set a goal and go for it. I give him a lot of credit for my academic, and athletic achievements due to him always displaying his hard work ethic, and his involvement in my life.

He was a celebrated orator and well-respected voice of the African-American community, often meeting with leaders like General Samuel C. Armstrong and President Armstrong. This journey is one of struggle, but a hopefulness that ultimately builds him into the remembered and respected man he was. In the beginning of his life, he lived with the little family he had, his mother and brother, in a log cabin in the south until after the Civil War. He faced a difficult life before slaves were emancipated on a southern plantation.

While reading the story “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin I could not help but think about my own brother while growing up. From a very young age I always felt as though it was my job to keep him safe and on the right path. We did everything together, played sports, played board games, watched television, we even had some of the same friends. Sometimes I felt more like a second mom to him than his older sister.

To begin, I was my mother’s first born. I am the oldest of the biological siblings and for 5 years I was an only sibling, I was treated much different and knew I could get away with more for these first years. After 13 years, my parents adopting my older sister. I was the oldest sibling for 13 years then I was the middle sibling. I was no longer the “rule setter” and instead had more strict rules due to my older sister’s behavior. She also came from a much different background than me and she helped shape me and open my eyes to how different people can be raised.

     Due to the fact that my father was now on his own and trying to raise three children (my older brother from my father’s first marriage), he had to take a different position at his work. Although he was getting a raise it wasn’t necessarily a good thing. He had to start working the night shift so he could get the raise. He didn’t really have a choice in the matter and because of this new change, I began to lose valuable time with him as well. It was now up to my brother to watch over us at night and make sure we got to bed on time. If there was any trouble or and problems in general, my brother would call my grandmother. For three years my dad worked that job and every night he would stay up after he got home to see us. He would make my sister and I breakfast and make we were off to school on time. This meant the world to me because no matter what he always made time for us.

I began to rebel and grades were no longer as important to me as they were to my father. My grades slipped to a C average, and that was not good enough. Instead of getting upset, my father encouraged me to apply myself. It took a couple of years, but he made me realize the importance of school, and that I only had one shot at doing it right. I graduated high school in the top ten percent of my class, thanks to my father.

My father came from a family of very little money. His parents were divorced when he was nine years old. Culturally, he was raised by both parents separately. His mother was a single mom putting herself through nursing school. My father is the oldest child of 4, and often took on adult responsibilities. Their status was considered lower class; however, their outlook was very giving and self-less. They were appreciative for everything they had, because they knew how hard it was to obtain. My father’s side is very outgoing, hardworking and independent. They remain humble, and are very well-rounded members of society.