HardWorkPaysOff
Readthearticlequicklyandanswerthefollowingquestion.
Whatdoes「HardWorkPaysOff」mean?
Asayoungboy,Igrewupwithmyeightsiblingsinatin-roofedshackinSummerfield,Louisiana.Ididn』tseemycircumstanceasanobstacle,eventhoughwedidn』tevenhavearealtoiletinthehouse.IsawmylifemoreasacardthathadbeendealttomeandItriedtomakethemostofit.
Iwastheyoungestoffiveboysandalsohadfoursisterswhohadtopulltogetherandtakecareofeachother.Dadwasn』taround,soIneverknewhimwell.HecommittedsuicidewhenIwasthreeyearsold,leavingMomwiththejobofraisingandprovidingforninekids.Sheworkedatasawmillrunningaforkliftforfiftydollarsaweekandhadanotherjobatapoultryplant.Shewasaveryhardworker,andinordertomakeendsmeet,shehardlyeverrested.
Mymombelievedindoingallshecoulddototakecareofherresponsibilities,sonomatterwhat,sheneveraskedforahandout.Youcanimagine;wekidsdidn』tgetwhatwewanted,butwealwaysgotthethingsweneeded.Withmymomasmyexample,Ilearnedthathardworkisthebestwaytogetwhatyouwant.
Whilegrowingup,Iwassurroundedwithtemptationstodonegativethingslikedrugs,alcoholandallthat.Ichosenottogothere,evenasalittleboy,IknewIwasgoingtobesuccessful.Somepeopletakethattobecockyorconceited,butIwasn』tgoingtoletanybodytellmethatIcouldn』tdowhateverIsetouttodo.
Ofcourse,IdreamedaboutwhatIwantedtobewhenIgrewup.Atfirst,Iwantedtobeastatetrooper,thenIwantedtobeintheSpecialForces.Afterawhile,IdecidedthatIwantedtodriveeighteen-wheelers.TherewasevenaperiodoftimethatIwantedtobeinconstruction.Iwantedtoplayfootballinhighschool;infact,Istilldo.ButregardlessofwhatIchose,Iwantedtomakemybrothers,sistersandmomproudofme—notonlybybeingsuccessfulinwhatIchosetodo,butalsoasapersonwhocouldbelookeduptofortherightreasons.
Surprisingasitmightseem,basketballwasn』tinmyplans.Oneday,mymomcutarimoffanoldwaterbarrelandthenhelditupformetothrowanoldrubberballthrough.Byjuniorhigh,Istartedplayingbasketballonateam.Ilovedtocompete.TherewasapositivehighIgotbygoingoutandplayingagainstotherpeopleandworkinghardtowin.Forme,itpaidoff.IjustletmysuccessinbasketballtakeitscoursebutIalwaysputtheeffortineveryday.NomatterwhatI』vedone,somepeoplewaitformydownfall,saying,「KarlMalonecan』tdoit.」Insteadoflettingpeoplelikethatgettome,theyareactuallymymotivationandIcontinuetoprovethemwrongeverysingleday.ItrytodothebestjobIcaninapositivewayonandoffthecourt.IrealizethatnomatterwhatI』mdealingwith,there』ssomebodyelseouttherewhohasitalittlebitworseoff.I』vebeenthere.AndIknowthatwithoutcontinuedhardwork,Icouldbethereagain.
IamgratefulforthelifeI』veenjoyedasabasketballstar.ButwhenIseetheseshirtsthatsay「Basketballislife」,IthinkYeah,right!Itisnotlife.Itcanbeexciting.ButtheimportantthingaboutbasketballisthatitgivesmeawaytodogoodthingsforothersasImovethroughthisjourneycalledlife.