Before I was born, my dad decided to become a businessman after a decade of being an engineer. This sudden change came with frequent month-long trips away from home. In his absence, my mom had to step in and take over the household.
After I was accepted into St. Mark’s in the 8th grade, my sisters were given the choice to remain at their current schools or move somewhere closer to the school to accommodate for my commute time of around forty minutes. However, given the fact that we had moved just one year prior, they rejected the idea immediately. Due to this decision, we remained in our house in Allen. The terrible gas prices and hour-long wait through rush-hour traffic became more prominent.
Despite the adversity, my mom and I found joy being in each other’s company. Our daily routines of going back and forth on the road gave us plenty of time to talk. It was through one of these conversations that I realized how much of a burden I was. I took for granted things my mom committed hours to. This epiphany forced me to mature and assist my mom however I could. I tried to do all my homework at school; I cooked after I got home; I tutored my younger sister; and I focused more of my attention on getting good grades. Sometimes, I would stay with a friend for a few days to alleviate my mom’s workload.
Even though I feel neglected on occasion, I have never felt any resentment towards my dad. His continual efforts towards providing for our family have made it possible for me to attend St. Mark’s. Even when my dad is at home, he stays awake far past midnight, organizing Excel spreadsheets and meeting with clients living halfway across the globe.
According to my mom, my dad was always an introvert that shied away from social interactions. However, to succeed as a businessman, he stepped out of his comfort zone and confronted his fears head-on. His discipline inspires me to pursue greatness in all aspects of life. In my first year at St. Mark’s, I was rarely vocal and made few connections. However, after learning of my dad’s situation, I felt stupid for the irrational reasons that kept me from reaching out.
Although most of my peers think of my dad’s absence as mostly negative, the daily reminder that he is on another continent doing his best provides cme with the motivation to get through any obstacle.
