Assignment 22 - Lia Jacobs

Though I've always been a moderately hard-working person, the current drive that I have to get things done and do them well stems from my brother. My brother, three years older than me, has been a slacker for as long as I can remember. Though he's slightly improved his ways, all I can remember from when he was in school is that he never turned in assignments, and he always cheated on tests. It's a shame, though, because I know he's smart and he knows it too. But when he entered high school and got a bit more freedom, his already minimal work ethic diminished to zero. My parents handled this matter in a less than delicate manner. Many of the nights when I was in sixth and seventh grade ended in yelling, slammed doors, and tears. I was never involved in these matters, but it felt like I was living in a warzone. This constant state of conflict led to more problems between my parents and my brother, which led to more, and more, and more. Being an emotionally sensitive person already, I did not take to the endless anger well. One night, sitting alone in my room listening to the shouting, I decided that I would not turn out like this, I couldn't handle being the source of these problems. Though coming from a less than stellar time in my life, this has always stuck with me. Even when I don't want to, even when I dread working, I always follow through. When I entered high school, I was scared. I couldn't turn out like my brother. He has many other lovely qualities but unlike him, I will not be dropping out of college. I will not be the source of conflict. I will not be unsuccessful.