For father's day this year I thought I would share an essay I wrote about my dad five years ago when I was a senior in high school. The essay actually won me a national scholarship and a full ride to any University of my choice and I thought my blog would be a good place to preserve a copy of it. I owe my dad a lot for giving me the inspiration for the essay....and I guess for the whole 18 years of raising me ;).
Standard Dad
The loud thudding of my father's work boots echoed on the cold tile outside of the classroom I waited in for him. His large frame filled the doorway as he entered to accompany me to my parent teacher conference. Inwardly I groaned at his appearance. My friend's father had just left in a 3 piece suit and tie carrying a briefcase, fitting the image of what I pictured to be the "standard dad."
The standard dad I pictured is the one seen in a Hallmark card clean shaven with a trendy haircut, designer suit, and a fancy car. He goes home every night to a two-story suburban home and his wife and kids waiting with dinner on the table.
Here stood my dad. His stained coveralls and mud caked shoes were far from designer apparel. His weathered cowboy hat hid is disarrayed hair, and instead of being clean shaven he had a handlebar mustache and smelled of a mixture of cement dust and cattle. He had just finished work at the cement plant, rushed home to feed the cows, and made it barely in time to attend the conference with me.
I shamefully looked at my hands folded in my lap, embarrassed at the apparent contrast between my father and all the other standard dads. My dad, however didn't seem to notice or didn't give his appearance a second thought. Either way, his views and mine were completely opposite at the time.
As I grew older, my perception of a standard dad began to take a turn. I gained experience while working at my first job. I began to notice the difference between my work ethic and the work ethic of those around me. The daily chores my father had given me on the farm taught me responsibility and hard work even in my early years. My work ethic needed no adjustment. I could work the full shift with ease while others struggled through it. Not only did growing up with my father's example on the farm teach me diligence in the work place but it also taught me perseverance in the classroom. Slowly my eyes were opened to the example my father had set for me and the priceless lessons he consistently taught.
I am very fortunate to have a father who raised his family on a farm. I have gained experiences that so many of my peers fail to have. I have learned that it is essential to always finish what I start. Working is a part of life, and it should be enjoyed not just endured. Hard work makes an honest man. The satisfaction one gains from doing a job well is worth more than taking an easy way out. Leadership is a skill that is imperative in any task that you undertake.
The perseverance and diligence I've learned from my father have driven me to excel academically. I am graduating from high school with an associates degree from Utah State University. I have worked a part-time job all four years of high school and maintained a 3.9 GPA. My performance and attentiveness in the classroom have given me the academic skills to do well on standardized tests such as the ACT in which I have received a 31 composite score. The considerable standards I was expected to follow have taught me to be a natural leader, which has helped me in several positions I've held throughout high school including president of National Honor Society and General Sterling Scholar for my high school.
I accomplished all of this because of the values my father instilled in me throughout my life. I set high dreams for myself early in life to attend a university and my father's example has helped me accomplish this goal. His stalwart persona showed me the kind of person I wanted to be. The stained coveralls, mud caked boots, weathered cowboy hat, and even the scent of cattle on my father's clothing have taken on an entirely new meaning to me. I no longer hang my head in shame but hold it erect with pride and embrace my dad and all that he has taught me. All of these qualities that shape the man he is have shaped the person I have become.
Happy Father's Day Dad! I am incredibly grateful for all that you taught me, for your stalwart example, and for always loving me. I couldn't ask for a better father than you.
-Kami
