Both sides of the tree

Our question for today was whether or not we have something that is passed down through generations within our families. From both sides of my tree, I inherit phrases and lessons that I hold very close to what makes me the person I am. 

On my mother's side, one of the most important people in my life and woman that I owe everything to is my grandmother. For three generations now, she has drilled each of us with her study habits and idea that school always comes first. It is her that I have to thank for even being in this class, because without her I would never be at the level academically that I am now. Her love and patience continued to show throughout my mother's generation, mine, and  my brother's and sister's children's generation to come. Her determination to raise up ambitious children shines through all of our lives.

On my father's side, it is a sort of a completely different playing field. My grandparents always taught him as a kid to be an individual and to be a leader not a follower. I can not even attempt to count how many times I have heard my parents, especially my father, tell my brother and I to always be the leader and not the follower. Eve though I still stand for this, I do have my disagreements and when I have kids and it is my turn to pass it on, I will tweak it a bit. (I think being a leader is very important, but to even be a leader you  have to humble yourself  first and be a good follower.) As far as being individual, I try and apply this to anything and everything I do. To me, this is one of the most important elements that makes me who I am.