I am ashamed to admit it, but when I was in middle and high school even I used to wish that my family had more money. It isn't that we were poor, there was just a lot of us. My mom raised us and went back to work when I was 14 and my dad worked with his hands. We had everything we needed, a roof over our heads, loving parents and full stomachs when we went to bed. Now that I am older I know that this is something to be really thankful for. When you're a young teen trying to fit in, it can be difficult.

I think that the hardest concept for me to grasp was that my dad's job was a little different from the jobs of my peers' parents. I lived on the outskirts of a more wealthy school district. When I say outskirts, I mean that my house is four down from the next school district over, a little school district called "Red Jacket." Chances are you've never heard of it. I went to a big school district, Victor, and I lived about 15 minutes from the school. I lived legitimately in the middle of nowhere (and still live there), in an 1860's farmhouse. Our cars weren't the newest, but they got us around. My dad had a landscape business and when the recession hit, he lost his job. Now, he works doing remodeling houses and painting. My mom works at a bank. Again, normal jobs. To me, a typical teen trying to run the race of having the latest phone, clothes, etc. It was hard to keep up. I was so selfish (as most kids are) on focusing on what I wanted. I used to be embarrassed that our 2002 above ground pool was a little dated, my room is a little small and we finally got Wi-Fi in 2014. But hey, I'm proud of this now. I have a beautiful old home to come to when I get back from college, I have a family who loves each other and loves to laugh and spend time together. When I was younger I hated not living in a neighborhood, but let me tell you, living in the middle of nowhere is the way to go. Coming home and standing at the edge of your property overlooking fields upon fields, that's comfort. That's home.

I wish I realized how hard my parents worked to ensure we were happy. I wish I wasn't so focused on the material aspect of life. My dad's hands are stained, rough and scarred from working with his hands his whole life. My dad can fix anything. My mom works 50 hours a week and still manages to put delicious meals on the table. She knows how to keep a tidy home and she knows how to bring us all together.

I'm so thankful that I know what it feels like to not have things handed to me on a silver platter. Because of this lifestyle, I have modeled their hardworking examples. Coming from this home and this lifestyle, I am so appreciative. I am so thankful that I can afford to go to a good college and pursue my dreams. I am so thankful I have this place to run home to. There's nothing wrong with being from a family with a lot of money, there's nothing wrong with being middle class and there's nothing wrong with coming from nothing. What I have learned throughout my life is that material things come and go, but it's the people in your life that really matter. It's your upbringing that matters. You could have every material possession in the world but still have nothing.