Likeallchildren,whenIwasgrowingupallIeverwantedtodowastobebig.Ialwayskeptacloseeyeonmyrolemodels(myparents)andalwaystriedtodoanythingtheydid.TheskillsIlearntandtheattitudeIacquiredfromayoungagewouldbeofimmensehelptomeinmylateryears.

　　Fromtheageoffive,thememoriesIhavearethoseoffollowingmyfatheraroundtheyardwatchingwashthecarandmowthelawn.MyfatherwouldsometimesgivemeasmallspongesothaticouldhelphimwashthecarandalthoughthejobIdidwasinsignificantandmostlikelynotdoneproperly,ialwaysgotasenseofprideandsatisfactioninmywork.ThemowingofthelawnwassomethingIwasnotallowedtohelporevenbenearformyownsafety.

　　Inmyteenageyearsmyrolearoundthehousehadchanged.Myfatherwasnolongeraroundandmymotherhadthepressureofprovidingformyyoungersistersandmyself.DuringschoolholidaysIwasresponsibleforlookingaftermysistersandkeepingtheamusedatthesametime,notaneasttaskatall!Gonewerethedaysofthelittlespongewashingthecar.DuringthistimeIhadalsomanagedtogetcasualemployment.AlthougthemoneyIearntwasnotsignificantbutitwasenoughformetopayformyhobbiesandeasesomepressureoffmymother.

　　NowasanadultIhaveasteadyjobandatertiaryeducationbehindme.Ihaveneverseenmyselfasavictimnordidiacceptsympathyfromanyonebecauseallthegoodandbadexperiencesofmyyoungeryearshavehelpedmebecomeasuccessfulanddeterminedperson.TRhesupportthatireceivedandcontinuetoreceivefrommyfamilywasalsoamajordriveformetowanttosucceedaswell.

　　Ithinkthateveryone'slifeisalwaysfullofgoodandbadexperiences.Thekeyistoappreciatethegoodandfindawayofturninganegativesituationintoapositive.Forexample,whenmyfatherwasnolongerarounditcouldhavebeenseentobeanegativesituation.However,learningtolookaftermysistersandearningalittlepocketmoneywasperhapsthebestandmostusefulexperiencesIhadwhilstgrowingup.