I am the only one in my family to graduate from college. My father had a sixth grade education in a one-room schoolhouse in the hills of Tennessee. My mother had an eighth grade education. They raised me to work with my hands, but were glad that I also could work with my brain.
I went to college at night while working during the day. I paid for my tuition while also living on my own. Needless to say, it took a long time to finish my college education. I received my teaching credential when I was forty-five years old.
My wife, who is also a teacher, and I live in a Spanish-style house in South Park. We have no children of our own, but we do have a crazy black cat who thinks she owns our house!