Bryan Wilkins Eng 100 This I Believe Draft #1 Due: 2/27/14
Stand On Your Own Two Feet
God bless the child that can hold his own.
One who stands up for himself and holds firm in any situation, God will help you, but you should make it a habit to help yourself first. I believe that this is true, and I have lived by this for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was young I have always stood up for myself, as well as been able to hold my very own. Let me explain by giving you an example. This specific summer was what really gave me the confidence and motivation to become who I am today.
Back when i was 15, I remember graduating middle school and thinking “what now”? I wanted to do so much that summer but didn't have the necessary funds to do so. My father had his own business as a sub-contractor, installing carpet. Every now and then, after work he would stop bye while I was outside playing with friends. I would ask him for money sometimes, or shoes, clothes etc. But this particular day I asked him for a pair of shoes I had wanted for a while. And his reply this time wasn't a yes, no, not now or ask your mother. he told me “ you want a pair of shoes, you get in this truck and you can buy any pair of shoes you want. As a 15 year old boy, yo would think that playing basketball, video games or hanging out with friends was more appealing. not for me. I immediately thought of all the possible things that I could buy that my parents wouldnt. No more hearing no, not now or if you're good. I would be able to get anything I wanted.
The next week would be my first week ever having a job. I woke up excited that Monday morning. My mom prepared breakfast for me, although she wasn't too excited about me working. She knew that it would teach me an important life lesson and values that would benefit me in the long run. All in all, she wanted me to understand that you have to earn things in life. You work hard and you make an honest living. This was something that children my age do not experience often. some may say that children should not have to experience that just yet. But i saw it as a way to be ahead of the game, ahead of my age bracket. So after I finished up my breakfast i waited anxiously for my father to come pick me up and go to work. Around 8 o'clock his van pulls up and I hear him blow the horn, “Beep beep”. I hugged my mom and out the door I went, to my first day of work.
As i got in the truck, my father and his helper, James greeted me, and off we went to the warehouse to get or job for the day. On the way there they explained to me that today would be a learning experience. They would be showing me the ropes. Harpat flooring was the company my father worked for, located in prospect park at the time. We arrived at the warehouse and it all seemed so exciting. I was in a real workplace. other grown men were there also picking up their work for the day. Being in an environment like that made me feel privileged. I got to meet the owners of the company as well as the factory workers. As we retrieved our carpet and the address of the job, I was able to become familiar with a couple of the tools I would be working with. Well, not necessarily working with, but understand what they were and there purpose.
We arrived at the job site and I began watching as my father and his helper began working. First we ripped up the old carpet and padding in the unit. After the rip up, we brought in the new padding. We used a tool called a hammer gun to staple the padding down. Next we brought in the carpet. We rolled out the carpet over top of the new padding and began the installation process. A kicker, chisel and carpet knife were used to do so. I learned a lot that day, mainly techniques and the proper way to do the job. After the job was done we cleaned up and was on our way home. I remember feeling like i had accomplished something great that day. But what really felt special was pay day. At the end of that week, I received my first weeks pay. I felt so good about myself, I was proud that I went out and got my own money. i was able to do whatever I wanted with that money. No more having to ask anyone for some money to got to the corner store for a bag of chips. No more asking my mom to buy me a new video game. no more asking, just doing.
Ever since that summer, its been that way ever since. I became a young man at a very young age. I helped out with the bills, I also supported myself financially. I became independent that summer, thus living by my statement. God bless the child that can hold his own. I feel like god blessed me with that opportunity because I wanted to do so. I wanted to become independent and embraced the fact that I could be able to do for myself. Those values took me a long way and I plan on continuing to live by them as long as its God’s will.