Handouts

I'm going to write for a minute about something that bothers me a lot. Maybe it should or shouldn't, but I can't stand to watch people be coddled by their parents and have everything handed to them.

More so at Fordham than at my high school, I have come across a surprising amount of people who can't function on their own, because they're never had to. People's parents give them cash every week, review and edit their papers, I've even heard of one girls' mom completing her applications for her. This isn't to say that my parents don't give me treats every now and then, but it just blows my mind that some people's parents are so involved in their lives.

My parents taught me very young that I am to work hard and earn everything I get. I earned an allowance and had chores for a long time, and I was not spoiled with new toys all the time. I knew I was expected to not only do my school work myself, but to do it to the best of my ability. They always expected me to give everything my all and achieve as high as I could. As soon as I was old enough, I got a summer job and earned my own spending money.

When I got to school and met people who had never done laundry or had a job, it blew my mind. How can someone not know how to edit their own papers or budget their own money? How can parents expect their child to go off into the real world without teaching them a little independence first?

I have a very close relationship with both of my parents and talk to them regularly, so there is no absence of love in our family, despite their high expectations. I am actually grateful my parents raised me to be as independent and hard working as they did. Because of them, I am learning to be a grown up. Though its not without constant struggles, I'm at least learning. If they had spoiled me senseless, when could I cut the cord? Would I expect my mom to send out my résumé and write my cover letters? Would my dad go to interviews?

I'm proud of myself and I thank my parents for raising me this way. Maturing hasn't been easy, but it's been worth the journey to see myself accomplishing all the goals I set out to when I was little.