I was introduced to work early — not because I had to, but because I wanted to learn. My mom was an accountant when I was born, later becoming a nurse, working long hours between a hospital by day and elder care at night. When my youngest brother was born (I was age 8), she reduced her hours and transitioned back into accounting, eventually becoming a chief accountant for the State of Texas.

She often took me to work with her and gave me small “jobs” to do. I learned how to hole punch, staple, highlight, paper clip, and organize documents into sorter trays. Sometimes she placed me in a vacant cubicle, and I’d pretend it was my office. She’d check my work, smile, and teach me how to do it better — those moments were my first lessons in accuracy, patience, and pride in what I create.

My dad, who raised me since I was two, also owned his own small business, and I helped him too. I learned to make copies, file papers, fill out handwritten invoices, and use a typewriter — skills that built my comfort with office systems long before computers became standard.

My First Jobs

By the time I was fifteen and a half, I had my first official job at McDonald’s. It started because my brother was having a birthday party, and my mom talked to the manager — the next thing I knew, I was wearing the uniform.

From there, I joined my high school work program, which allowed me to leave school early to work part-time. Somehow, I balanced three jobs in high school — McDonald’s, Walmart as a cashier, and Boston Market.

I had a car and insurance to pay for, and even though I was a teenager, I managed school, work, and family responsibilities all at once. There were no cell phones back then — just a private landline my mom got for me so I could stay responsible and reachable.

Lessons That Stuck

I didn’t realize it then, but those early years taught me everything about discipline, multitasking, customer service, and dependability. I learned to keep commitments, stay organized, and communicate — lessons that carried me into every industry I’ve worked in since.

Everything I had done up to that point — the office work, the real estate license, the mortgage company — was the path my mother wanted for me. She saw potential in me before I even saw it in myself. Her goal was to make sure I had stability, structure, and a career that could carry me through life.

But deep down, I started to feel something shift. I wanted to see the world through my own eyes, not just through the plans laid out for me. There came a point where I began to pull away — not out of anger, but out of a need to grow. I wanted to experience life on my own terms, make my own decisions, and learn what I was truly capable of.

That independence came with a price. The heartache I caused my mom by not following her exact path was something I carried for a long time. It wasn’t easy knowing that my choices disappointed her at times — but it was also the sacrifice that helped me discover who I really was.

If I hadn’t taken those steps on my own, I would have never learned about the many industries I later worked in — industries that shaped my creativity, empathy, and confidence. From administrative support to customer relations, marketing, and beyond, each chapter gave me tools I still use today.

Looking back, I see that both my mother and I were right — her lessons gave me foundation, but my curiosity gave me wings.