When I think about the person whose hard work has had the biggest impact on my life, I immediately think of my dad. He is one of the hardest-working, most loyal, caring, and creative people I know. He built a junk removal business from the ground up, but his success did not come easily. His story has shown me what it means to work for what you want, take care of the people you love, and not let circumstances determine your future. When my parents had my sister and I, we were struggling to get by. My parents had both been kicked out of their homes when they were young, so they had to figure out how to keep us safe. We went from living in their car, to staying in motels, to apartments, and eventually houses. They sold things at flea markets and out of the trunk of their car to make money. My dad did whatever he needed to provide for our family. What stands out to me most is that he never allowed my sister and me to feel the stress he was experiencing. Growing up, I never thought we were poor. We always had food, new clothes, Christmas and birthday presents, and opportunities to have fun. My dad made sure we had everything we needed, even when he was working hard behind the scenes. As I got older, I began to understand my childhood differently. I realized my parents had sacrificed a lot to give us experiences. I remember a family trip to Los Angeles where we went to Disneyland and Universal Studios and visited Venice Beach. At the time, I thought it was a trip. Years later, I realized how much it had cost and how much time, money, and energy my dad had sacrificed to give us memories. I also got to see the beginning of his business. When I was ten, I helped him with small jobs by picking up wood and furniture and putting them into his truck. He even paid me $100, which felt like a fortune. Looking back, the money was not what mattered most. I was really proud to feel like I was helping him build something. Watching my dad run his business has taught me that success is about more than making money. He cares about his employees, treats customers like family, and is always finding creative ways to advertise and grow his business. He taught me that relationships, creativity, and hard work all matter. My dad is one of the biggest reasons I chose to continue my education. He tells me that he wishes he had stayed in college, but he had to put his family first. He wants me to earn my bachelor’s degree and have opportunities he missed. I am studying Business Administration because I want to own a business. I do not know what that business will be yet, but I want to combine the work ethic and creativity my dad taught me with the education he wishes he had completed. My dad has shown me that where you begin does not have to determine where you end up. He went from living in a car and motels to building a successful company and creating a life for our family he once only dreamed about. I am grateful for what he sacrificed and what those struggles taught him. Most of all, he taught me to dream bigger, work hard, and believe that my goals are possible. I hope that one day I can make him as proud of me as I am of him.