Family First

My grandmother is my biggest inspiration in life. She is incredibly hard working and full of energy. She taught me as early as I can remember to maintain a good sense of humour even when times can be tough and her bold actions inspire everyone around her every day. She was raised with twelve other siblings, so she was never encouraged to attend college. She got married at eighteen years old, had her first child at nineteen and was a stay at home mom for fifteen years. My grandfather was in the army for a few of these years, and sent money home.
When she was thirty-five, my Grandmother made the decision to go back to work full time. Without a college education or much experience, she landed a job as a Wells Fargo teller. She wanted my uncles and my mom to have the best life they could. She worked for five years and eventually she became the vice president of her location and moved to a nicer neighborhood with her family. Though her transition from not working at all to working full time was hard on her and her family, she made the right decision that greatly benefited them financially. Her decision allowed her to support her family and provide them everything they needed to thrive and more. Her actions have wordlessly taught me to always think my decisions through. At first glance, going back to working full time must have seemed like a horrible idea to leave her family, but as she thought it through, she found what she needed to do to support her family. After working for twenty-nine years at Wells Fargo, She retired and had fulfilled everything she had ever wanted for her family; accomplished all with her dedication and hard work. Growing up with twelve siblings brought her family to her consideration when she thought about her future, and though I do not have twelve siblings, her actions inspire me to always think about my family before making large decisions.

Her decision was in the back of my mind when moving. I did not want to relocate two hours away in the middle of jr. high, but it was all worth it to see my grandparents more. My family is a huge part of my life. I could not even imagine what type of person I would be without my grandmother’s influence. I was hesitant and unhappy to move from a huge city to a small town, but I always knew that I would see my grandparents more. Sure enough, we went from seeing my grandparents only during breaks, to seeing them a few times a week. My bond with them is closer than ever, and it is the reason I was willing to move.