Identity paper

Identity                      Casey Riland

                                                                                                                      English 1A 9:15

         Out of class Essay #1

    I feel that my identity was derived from my heritage. Being Irish was about pride and hard work. I remember my grandfather taking time to tell my stories about Traveling from Ireland to the U.S.A.The hardships that were endured and the loss of life and property looking for the opportunities that were promised for immigrants’ is the United States of America.The destination was New York City and the promise was unlimited success based on your efforts not your history.

  I learned to be an honest person through the living example of my father and my mother. I learned that working hard is the best way to find and live the life you want to. Traditionally women in our family have worked to support the household as well as teach daughters and sons  how to take care of house chores that would normally be done exclusively by women as mentioned in the story “Where I Come From is Like “written by Paula Gunn Allen the author states that women were often the hardest working people in the tribe. As well as the children who worked right alongside the women.

  Furthermore when I was about thirteen years old my parents got divorced and my mother took over both roles in my life. I Learned a great deal from her through her living example of doing whatever it took to provide for my brothers and I. She finally remarried a good and honest man who was good to all of us. My lesson from her was that it truly was better to come from a broken home than to live in one. She showed me that where there is a will surely is a way if you’re willing to have faith and work hard.

   In my family traditions are very important as well as our Catholic faith has for most of my life allowed me to see people through the eyes of God.Kindness is the best way to beat an enemy as well as being a good and decent human being.

  My family is the most important thing in my life and I always strive to help when I can or just try to be there if they need me. Being a father, a son and a brother have given me some of the proudest moments in my life.

  I will never forget the sweet Irish accent my grandmother had when she would call me down for breakfast during the two week vacation she would take off from work each year. She would  have my two brothers and I and my two cousins stay with her and my grandfather. She would spoil us while my grandfather would make us dig holes and relandscape his property every year.

  Knowing that I have a rich full history of hard working and faithful  people who are not afraid to stand up for themselves and be willing to exchange  blood sweat and tears to have an opportunity to get and pursue their dreams desires and goals personally makes me very proud and grateful for the man I am today.