Understanding the Dream

After two months of cow blood and cutting specialty meats, I understand their dream and sacrifices now more than ever. I learned a lot about my father and the people who sacrifice themselves and their health in order to provide for their families.

This whole summer at National Beef I couldn’t help but ask, “Who puts up with these types of jobs?” The answer is people like my father — people who want to give their children the opportunity to grow up differently than they did.

The workers at National Beef are some of the most hardworking people that exist out there, and that includes my father. I worked there in order to save money for college. But for many of my coworkers, it’s survival. They are following in the footsteps of my parents, putting feet to their dreams.

My parents are living proof to never stop working toward a dream. My brother and I graduated high school and are pursuing higher education and training to prepare for our chosen career paths.

It would be nice if the story ended there but attaining dreams doesn’t mean there’s a perfect happy ending. After years of hard work, my father has arthritis from the workload. He’s aged faster and is constantly in pain. My mother still takes odd jobs for as little as $15 cleaning kitchens. She suffers from tendonitis in her left shoulder from a restaurant accident where she worked as a dishwasher.

Despite these ailments, the chase for something better for their children continues. It is up to my brother and I to make this next phase of the dream a reality.

Editor’s Note: This story was also published on Humanities Kansas as part of a partnership with HK and Crusader.