Values

Religion

My family consists of Catholics, Christians, and Muslims. I would describe some of my family members as more spiritual than religious. My siblings and I were raised to believe in God. We attended church on occasion and learned about other religions as well. We were always told that God is everywhere and you can worship in your home or at church. Since my family consists of many different religions, we are very open-minded when it comes to holidays. Holidays to us are times we can get together and celebrate family and not necessarily just gift giving.

Morals

My parents always taught us to respect other people and to demand respect. They were firm believers in actions speak louder than words. My parents valued the ability to have your own opinion and ideas. My parents have been married for over 30 years and have instilled the belief in marriage and the family structure.

Work Ethic

Hard work pays off is my family’s motto. We work hard and like to play hard. My parents had multiple jobs at a time while raising my sisters and me. We always worked for what we had and were taught not to take anything for granted. We were raised in a working class family and each of use worked by choice while in high school. They showed us how to work together towards a common goal when they purchased their first home while I was in high school.  My parents still live in that home and it is a reminder that hard work does pay off.

Education

Education was always highly valued in my household. My parents encouraged and supported us through our educational experiences. My parents were very involved in our classrooms and school. We valued higher learning and believed that is was never too late to go back to school. All of the members in my immediate family have attended college, graduated from college, or is working towards a graduate degree. My sister and I are both teachers. The importance of education is something that we pass down to our children as well.