My dad grew up and went to school in the Philippines. School back then (he was born in 1938) consisted of him going to school from ages 5- 16. He graduated from high school when he was 16 years old. He was an average student. When it came time for him to decide what he wanted to be, he had told everyone that he wanted to become a doctor. Funny enough, many people doubted him and did not think that he could become a doctor. Probably because in high school he was more concerned with fishing etc. than his schoolwork. However, having people doubting him made him want to try even harder to succeed at becoming a doctor. Sure enough he made it through pre-med and got accepted to the best medical school in the Philippines.

Raised in New York City, my mom went to college at New York University, earning an associates degree to become a medical assistant (she is a manger of a clinic now).

Growing up, my mom and dad always expressed the importance of education. When my dad was a kid, he did not have bicycles or a T.V. etc. so he had to come up with different things to entertain himself. Instead, he read a lot as a kid. My mom never really watched T.V. either. They never saw the purpose of me wanting to watch my T.V. shows or always wanting to be on the phone. They just did not understand how devastated I would be if I missed a phone call from a friend or an episode of Mr. Belvedere and the Cosby show. They always wished I would read in my spare time or learn how to play the piano. I think when my dad was young his family focused a lot on educational things. I remember when my Aunt would visit us for Christmas. I would want to show her the cute little cheers I had learned (in the 3rd grade) but she wanted me to read the encyclopedia to her. She would make me read passages out of the book and would always want us to watch educational movies. At that age, reading the encyclopedia and watching education movies weren’t my thing. However, I understand where they are coming from. I understand that there is more to life than just the fun stuff and that getting an education is important.

As it came to school things, my parents did not discipline us to do well in school. It was more of a self-discipline on my part to want to succeed well in school. The main thing my parents expressed was hard work. Just what ever you do make sure you are doing your own work and that you are putting time into your work.

My parents did not make any us go to college. However, there was an option, either go to college or move out and get a full time job. I always wanted to go to college so the hard part was deciding where to go and what to be. My parents were very supportive of me and never pressured me to go to a certain college or to become something I did not what to become. So when I got to college a lot of their values of education came with me, which is as long as you work hard and try you can succeed in any field of profession.