We are proud to announce the winner of our 2024 Stout Law Firm Scholarship Contest: Natalia Norton!
Read Natalia’s Essay
My Dad is a Farmer.
My dad is a construction manager, but at heart he is a farmer. He loves the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, and in the evenings when he comes home from work, I can find him sitting on our front deck just staring off into the pink sunset. When I was younger I would always wonder why my dad stayed at his indoor office job when he could be outside exploring! It was a reasonable idea to an 8yr old who had been told to follow their heart and choose whatever they wanted to be when they grew up; A pop star seemed realistic at that time. To a gullible child, doing something you didn’t love could seem like a waste of time, but to an 18 yr old in their first year of college, I have known that he was selfless enough to give up his joy for his family.
My dad never graduated from University, he dropped out to start working and support the small family he created with my mom and older brother. He knew that becoming a farmer wouldn’t provide for the family he hoped to grow. He started building houses to earn money but was suddenly let go. From there he worked hard and sought out more construction work in our growing community. He soon had years of experience under his belt and became more valuable than those who had gotten a proper education. He earned money to provide for us and saved for our education. He loved learning and I know he would have thrived in college. He chose family over his education. He worked overtime and weekends in his cramped office, to save money to send me and my siblings to University. I will never forget the face he made when I told him I got into my dream school. He lit up and smiled bigger than I had ever seen him smile. He hugged me and told me how proud he was and that I was going to have an awesome experience. For dayshe went on about how excited he was for me! Education was important to him, and I have made it a priority and privilege in my own life.
To me, my dad is a farmer. A farmer of joy and laughter, a farmer of family and unity, a farmer of love and protection. My dad is the most selfless person I know and he is my source of motivation and desire to succeed. So what does family mean to me? Selflessness and sacrifice, but most importantly, love. To love someone so much that you value their success over your own, their life over your own and their happiness over your own. I love my family and I know they love me. My dad may not be a farmer, but he will always be the hardest working person I know and one day I hope to repay him by giving him the life he dreams of.
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