When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad's office.
When
I
walked
into
the
house
after
school
,
the
first
thing
I
noticed
was
a
box
with
items
I
recognized
from
my
dad
's
office
.
"What are you doing home already?"
``
What
are
you
doing
home
already
?
''
I asked casually.
I
asked
casually
.
"Andrew, I was laid off today," he answered, quietly.
``
Andrew
,
I
was
laid
off
today
,
''
he
answered
,
quietly
.
I was sure he was joking.
I
was
sure
he
was
joking
.
"No, you weren't.
``
No
,
you
were
n't
.
Why are you really home?"
Why
are
you
really
home
?
''
Then I noticed his seriousness and realized he was telling the truth.
Then
I
noticed
his
seriousness
and
realized
he
was
telling
the
truth
.
My father has always been
My
father
has
always
been
a hard worker and prided himself on his career.
a
hard
worker
and
prided
himself
on
his
career
.
Providing for our family has been his joy, and I guess I had taken his work for granted.
Providing
for
our
family
has
been
his
joy
,
and
I
guess
I
had
taken
his
work
for
granted
.
My father's unemployment created many changes in our lives.
My
father
's
unemployment
created
many
changes
in
our
lives
.
For starters, he was home all the time, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school.
For
starters
,
he
was
home
all
the
time
,
which
meant
my
bed
had
to
be
made
,
my
room
cleaned
up
,
and
my
homework
done
right
after
school
.
I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs.
I
would
come
home
every
day
to
find
him
at
the
computer
searching
for
jobs
.
I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be optimistic.
I
began
to
notice
how
down
he
seemed
,
and
how
losing
his
job
had
affected
his
self-esteem
,
though
he
tried
to
be
optimistic
.
For the first time, I saw my dad as vulnerable.
For
the
first
time
,
I
saw
my
dad
as
vulnerable
.
He asked my brother and me to spend less.
He
asked
my
brother
and
me
to
spend
less
.
I gave up my allowance, which even though it wasn't much, felt like the right thing to do.
I
gave
up
my
allowance
,
which
even
though
it
was
n't
much
,
felt
like
the
right
thing
to
do
.
I also found a part-time job.
I
also
found
a
part-time
job
.
After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction.
After
several
difficult
months
of
searching
,
my
dad
decided
to
go
in
a
totally
different
direction
.
He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business.
He
explained
that
he
never
wanted
to
be
laid
off
again
,
so
he
was
going
to
start
his
own
business
.
Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he expended.
Day
by
day
,
I
watched
him
build
it
,
and
I
admired
how
much
time
and
energy
he
expended
.
One evening I asked if he needed help.
One
evening
I
asked
if
he
needed
help
.
"Only if it doesn't interfere with school," he said.
``
Only
if
it
does
n't
interfere
with
school
,
''
he
said
.
k*s5*u
k*s5*u
I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months.
I
showed
up
at
his
office
the
next
afternoon
,
and
most
afternoons
after
that
for
two
months
.
I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really impacted me.
I
always
knew
he
was
a
hard
worker
,
but
watching
him
in
action
really
impacted
me
.
Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity.
Although
this
was
one
of
the
worst
experiences
for
our
family
,
it
taught
me
a
lot
about
dealing
with
adversity
.
Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plan B, ask for help, and take risks.
Now
I
know
that
through
creative
problem-solving
,
I
can
always
find
Plan
B
,
ask
for
help
,
and
take
risks
.
What I have learned from my dad's understanding of business and his work ethic are two of the most important lessons I will ever learn, and will be my foundations for success.
What
I
have
learned
from
my
dad
's
understanding
of
business
and
his
work
ethic
are
two
of
the
most
important
lessons
I
will
ever
learn
,
and
will
be
my
foundations
for
success
.
When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad's office.  "What are you doing home already?" I asked casually.  "Andrew, I was laid off today," he answered, quietly.  I was sure he was joking. "No, you weren't. Why are you really home?"  Then I noticed his seriousness and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been  a hard worker and prided himself on his career. Providing for our family has been his joy, and I guess I had taken his work for granted.  My father's unemployment created many changes in our lives. For starters, he was home all the time, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be optimistic. For the first time, I saw my dad as vulnerable. He asked my brother and me to spend less. I gave up my allowance, which even though it wasn't much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job.  After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he expended.  One evening I asked if he needed help.  "Only if it doesn't interfere with school," he said. k*s5*u  I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really impacted me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity. Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plan B, ask for help, and take risks. What I have learned from my dad's understanding of business and his work ethic are two of the most important lessons I will ever learn, and will be my foundations for success.