Brother and I Laugh About it Now,

¶ … brother and I laugh about it now, but our parents were very strict when we were growing up. We certainly found nothing funny about it at the time. It seemed to us that we worked harder than just about any other kids we knew. My father always told us we didn't have time to get into trouble: "Study hard, do your homework, practice for your piano lessons, and do all your chores.

If you still have time on your hands, go help your mother." He made sure we each had a job the summer before we turned sixteen. My mother took our paychecks and deposited them in the bank. We were given a few dollars but most of the money seemed to disappear in a deep dark hole. We were certain we were being abused. By the time we went to college, though, we started to see some of the fruit of our labor.

We each had healthy bank accounts; unbeknownst to us, our parents had matched the funds they deposited for us each payday and the interest compounded quickly when no withdrawals were made over several years. I realized I scarcely remembered the names of some of the people I had worked with every day for months. I am sure I would not have remembered what I spent my money on had my parents given me sole discretion over it. Most importantly, I developed a strong work ethic.

I understood the value of time and I knew what it felt like to work hard at something and see results. I learned to make decisions about what was important and what was not worthy of my attention and efforts. I learned that it is ultimately more rewarding to work for something and wait for it than to be gratified right away. I learned to appreciate the value of a dollar and how hard I had to work to earn some money. I also learned to be creative and resourceful.

On those occasions when I had finished everything that was required of me, I would not have dared complain that I had nothing to do! I figured out how to make good use of my time, whether it was reading a book or teaching myself how to fix my bike. All of these life skills will serve me well in the workplace. My childhood experiences taught me put my head down and work. No complaining, no excuses -- just get the job done.

We were expected to have a cheerful attitude as we went about our work as kids and, amazingly, I have found that positive thinking has become a habit. I rarely feel discouraged, using the energy instead to figure out solutions to problems that temporarily frustrate me. I understand that, just as I value my money, my employers value theirs, and I want to make sure I give them good value by doing my best while I am at work.

I am flexible and think creatively, which helps me work well independently and as part of a team. Finally, I think I am good at seeing the "big picture." As a teenager, I was often lost in the moment and did not understand why.