
Hard Work Always Pays Off
By working at such a young age, I started to learn the responsibilities and discipline of how to invest, save and spend my money wisely. I have learned so much from my dad on how to not only earn money but how to manage, save it, and to even start my own IRA savings account.
My dad has mentored me through so many different life lessons related to working that it makes me so confident that I could go out at age 17 and hold down a great job and even live on my own if I ever had to do such a crazy thing. He has not only shown me how to find the right jobs but how to manage and save my money. At age 15 I had my own checking account, savings account, and IRA account. At age 16 I managed to save $18,000. Yes, $18,000 none of it was given to me, it was all hard-working money from my jobs (remember I earn some great tips as a Barista)! What did I do with all that money? Well, I needed a car and my dad was about to show me another one of his “Life Lessons”. So he says “Brooke, you want a car well you have to pay for it and that means not only buying the car but maintaining the car”. Oh ya, I was like “What?#@!$%^. “Are you kidding me, Dad?
He certainly was not. He had me cough up $15,000 and I got to keep the $3,000 just so I can pay for my car insurance, taxes, and gas! I am not kidding, he really took my money. But he matched the $15,000 and I purchased a new Mazda CX 5 2022. So I started all over again saving and I am back up to $12,000!
Although I was upset, I am starting to understand why he makes me work so hard. He can easily pay for things; he’s got the money to do it but he has been teaching me a lesson and each day I am stronger and more confident that I can do anything I set my mind to do. Ever since I was a young child my dad had taught me the responsibilities of working hard. By having multiple jobs at a young age, I learned what I love and what I don’t, which has given me the confidence to select the right college and major for the next part of my life.