My American Story

My American Story

My story is like your families stories. It is the the story of American Exceptionalism.  In other countries before America you were born into a class.  Lower class, middle class, upper class and that is where you stayed. 

We are a country of the people by the people for the people.  We believe in the individual not the government or society determining where we live, work or play. 

In my family there are many who are blue collar workers, farmers, businessmen and businesswomen, single mothers, single fathers.  Hard workers and the lazy who do not work.  All in one family.

Now, lets see how that played out in my story.  My great grandfather came here from Germany.  Settled in the Midwest.  My grandfather was a farmer who raised hogs.  My father was the eldest of the children his education was in a one room school house.  He had dreams of being something so he went and joined the Navy.  He tried a lot of things in his life.  He was and actor, a supervisor in a factory, owned his own furniture company, and then lied on a application stating he had a degree in engineering and went into aeronautical engineering.  He became a top engineer in an aerospace company.

My father demonstrated the ability have a dream, set a goal, and go after the goal with passion.  He taught us nothing is impossible.  He taught us hard work pays off. 

I became the first of my family to go to college and graduate with an advanced degree.  I have done many things in my life.  I have been up and down socially, economically and mentally.  I was married at 18 the statistical chance of success near zero.

Struggled finding a warehouseman job, I worked as a structural assembler in an , went to work for the County of LA.  I worked all those jobs while going to college at night.  graduated with BA degree in 4 years, then went on to get my masters degree 2 years later. 

I was a success at the County Job and moved up quickly.  I loved the investment in Real Estate.  I have been a one percenter and a poor person.  I have moved through all 4 of the classes at various times.  Sometime up sometime down it comes with that fearless attitude.  If I am knocked down I get up brush myself off and keep going.

My son went on to get a PhD in Micro Biology at UCLA.  He surpassed his dad in education.  Yes, we do not have a class system where my son is and stays in my shadow.  We have opportunity here in this country.  It is a matter of heart and passion.  Yes you can stay at a very low level of success if you choose you can be a success if you choose and have the desire.  As long as you do not accept that life is something owed to you.  Hard work still wins the day.  Live without fear.

YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SUCCEED OR FAIL.