I believe hard work pays off, a belief that was instilled in me by my parents. During the lazy, hazy summertime, I would join my parents in farming. Each day, my dad would deliberately wake me up at six o’clock in the morning. This routine included me waking up before my aquarium blue curtain was untied, before my alarm went off, and before my older sisters were awake. It is surprising, but this was my daily routine. It is frustrating because I have been sacrificing my summer mornings to work on the farm instead of enjoying a typical teenage summer.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was immediately aware of the condition of the ground, checking for any mud or puddles. The ground was consistently muddy and sticky due to the sprinkler. Consequently, my parents insisted that I wear heavy leather boots to prevent slipping or getting dirty easily. Each step I took was accompanied by the pronounced sounds of my boots: “clop clop” and “splak splak.” At times, I would unknowingly feel as though I was squashing large insects due to the weight of my boots. Once we began farming, our tasks involved crouching down and removing unwanted roots, placing them in a brown basket, and then carefully planting new seeds in organized rows in the soil. It is well-known that farming is far from entertaining; it is all about laboring endlessly, as if there is no end in sight. Much like parallel lines that continue indefinitely.
I tried to find enjoyment in farming, but it has become increasingly repetitive. So I expressed my dissatisfaction to my father: “Dad, why do you and the others work so tirelessly for this? It’s really exhausting.” My father responded by saying, “Thung, have you ever heard the phrase ‘hard work pays off’?” I replied, “Yes.” Then my father added, “Well then remember that because in the future you will face many unexpected challenges, but you must persist and overcome them.” He smiled at me and said, “Just trust me, hard work truly does pay off.” Honestly, his words hit me like a bullet to the heart. My dad’s sincerity made me regret what I had just said. On this beautiful day, I came home from my friend’s house around six in the evening.
I have a vivid memory of the delightful breeze and clear summer sky with fluffy clouds. The trees greeted me with their gentle swaying as I approached the door, but darkness awaited inside. I became curious about the reason for the somber atmosphere in our house, wondering if they had gone out to eat without me. Intrigued, I grabbed my house key and unlocked the door, only to be astonished by a surprise party awaiting me. Coincidentally, it was also my mom’s birthday, but they intended to surprise me as a way of expressing gratitude for helping with farming tasks. Despite its small scale, I deeply appreciated their gestures.
Prior to concluding his speech, my father conveyed gratitude towards my diligent efforts, recognizing the scarcity of leisure and relaxation I experienced throughout the summer. Nonetheless, he assured me that the minor strides I have made will lay the foundation for triumphing over more arduous hurdles in subsequent endeavors. He underscored the significance of having faith in the rewards yielded by hard work. This heartfelt message evoked tears of appreciation while I smiled sincerely.
Then my mom said, “This is only a little thing, please don’t mind that we didn’t do anything huge for you, as you know the best gift that anyone can give each other is their sincere words and the love that they give to each other and this is just what we have for you. Thank you, Thung.”
I thank them lastly and for their wondrous speech they gave me.
This made me believe that hard work does pays off, whether it’s small or big everything happens for a reason.
