Alexis Rich

Stacey Frazier

English comp 1

October 1st, 2019

   Economic Class

In my house, we used to fill up on hamburger helper every night, and deal with car doors

that refused to stay attached to the car itself. Now, my parents own their own business and can

even afford to help other families have a few of the luxuries we used to go without. It is the hard

things in life that make us grow, make us better, and make us a family. Getting to where they are

today has been both tough and rewarding. I watched and learned as they worked hard, held

multiple jobs, and raised a loving family all on their own. Although their road to success has

been bumpy at times, it is now paved with the knowledge, experience, and wisdom they acquired

along the way. 

My parents both worked long hours and held down several jobs at once to keep our

family from having to struggle.  My mother has always put other people’s needs before her own,

and she knows how to get things done. So, she made working three jobs and endless hours look

easy.  I don’t think I ever heard one word of complaint while working 3 jobs.  My dad is also no

stranger to hard work and perseverance.  He worked countless hot and sweaty hours in the

oilfield.  All the while, he paid attention, put his head down, and kept learning until he knew he

was ready to take a chance on his own roustabout company.  When my parents reflect on the

sacrifices they have made, they have no regrets. Life has taught them to stay focused, keep

working, and good things will come. My dad now owns two roustabout companies, but he still

has to work diligently every day. Hard work is the key to everything.
 Raising a family in the middle of trying to make something of themselves could not have

been easy.They strove to be the best parents anyone could ever ask for, even when they had to be

exhausted, stressed-out, and drained from long hours at multiple jobs. My parents made sure we

always had everything we needed, and the sincerity of their efforts really made an impression.

They raised three kids while tirelessly working toward their goal of being able to offer us a better

life. No matter what my parents still took the time to make us feel loved and important. Even if

they had to miss one event, they would somehow always let us know that wherever they were,

whatever they were doing, they were cheering us on. My mom and dad truly taught us, through

their own example, what a strong work ethic is supposed to look like, and that hard work really

does pay off.  I think that trying to raise a family while maintaining a successful career is

something that every parent struggles with, and I will always be proud of my family’s

accomplishments.

 No one should have to endure not having family to turn to when things are

overwhelming, but even when she was utterly desperate, my mom could not ask her family for

help. My mom never had a good relationship with her mother, and therefore, she ended up

moving out when she was 16.  At such as young age, she had no choice but to learn how to do

everything for herself, but without knowing it, all the while she was preparing herself for our

future.  Many people say they don’t want to end up like their parents, and then they turn out

exactly like them. But my mom knew that she never wanted to put her children through the kind

of hurt she felt with her own mother. She let the wrongs from her own childhood guide her to a

different path, one of being the best mother she could be. My dad also had a hard time growing

up. His side of the family has never really been involved in his life or ours. So, my dad only has

us to come to when he needs support. My parents may not have had any help, but that has only
made them stronger, more resourceful people. Over the years, my mom and dad figured out how

to live successful lives on their own. Learning to do things on your own is hard, but it is not

impossible.

My parents might laugh if they read this. They might wonder how I could think it was so

easy for them or might marvel at how anyone could think they ever made it look easy. They had

to learn from trial and error along their hard road to success.  Sometimes this meant working

multiple jobs while trying to raise a family, and doing everything by themselves without help

from anyone but each other.  My mom and dad showed people that you can build a family and

make something of yourself at the same time. It will be hard, especially if you have no one else

to turn to for support. But my parents never seemed to mind the work or giving up a few things

here and there if it meant that we could have something better. For my mom, her children are a

source of fulfillment she thought she had lost, and for my dad, well, we are his family. My mom

and dad showed people that you don’t have to choose between building a strong family and

making something of yourself, but it is truly the bond I feel as their daughter that has taught me

that if you push hard enough, and never give up, things will work out.