Gaining independence has always been my greatest vision in life since I was 13.
Before that time, I lived a happy life with my mom.
She brought me up on her own after my dad walked out on us when I was 5. Mon was happy and healthy, then she fell ill and passed away when I was 12. I had to move in with my uncle and aunt, whom I didn’t like. They had always treated mom badly, blaming her for dad leaving. From the day I moved in, I started working and saving for college to move out as soon as I hit 18. After high school, it was no surprise that they said I was now on my own. Luckily, I had saved up enough to go to HVAC school as per the school counselor’s advice. She knew I liked to work with my hands and encouraged me to try a trade school and avoid getting into debt by going to college. The trade school I applied to had accommodation, so I lived there, went to HVAC classes, and worked part-time for an HVAC technician in town. My time was quite limited, and I barely had a social life. But, I was determined to make it and be independent once I finished school. It took 3 years to complete the course, and I had a job waiting for me when I graduated from HVAC school. The money was good, plus I got benefits. With my culture of saving, I managed to get a 20% down payment and bought my first small house. The house requires some work, including adding a new air conditioner.