A few years ago, I graduated from school, a day I had eagerly anticipated. The ceremony was filled with excitement: students in caps and gowns, families cheering, and cameras flashing. However, my joy turned to anxiety as I scanned the crowd for my parents, who were nowhere to be seen.
As I received my diploma, my heart sank seeing no familiar faces. After the ceremony, I checked my phone and found a message from my mom: “Sorry, we couldn’t make it. Something came up with your stepsister. We’ll celebrate later. Congrats!”
The excuse? My stepsister Iris had a broken nail and threw a tantrum, demanding to go to a salon. I was stunned and heartbroken. My prom date, Justin, and his family comforted me, including me in their celebration.
When I confronted my parents, my mom’s explanation left me speechless. “Iris broke a nail and was inconsolable,” she said. Realizing their skewed priorities, I decided to leave and stayed with Justin’s family, who supported me.
Years later, at my college graduation, history repeated itself. My parents missed it because Iris wanted a specific cake, and they got stuck in traffic. Despite the hurt, I realized my worth isn’t defined by their actions.
Justin and his family became my support system. Their unconditional love helped me move forward, showing that true family is defined by those who stand by you
The former president Jimmy Carter lives in a house worth $210,000 and shops at the local Dollar General
On October 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. was born in Plains, Georgia. James Earl Carter Sr., his father, was a prosperous businessman who made investments in farms. Carter was born in the Wise Sanitarium, where his mother, Bessie Lilian, was employed as a nurse.
Young Carter attended the local high school from 1937 to 1941. Motivated by his father’s World War I service in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps, he pursued his desire of serving in the armed forces and was accepted into the Naval Academy in 1943.
Carter wrote in the book What Makes a Marriage Last by Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas that he felt an immediate connection with his wife, Rosalynn. In 1946, following Carter’s graduation from the Naval Academy, the youthful pair tied the knot. Carter gave his all to his family, which now consisted of his wife, four kids, and the family company, after leaving the Navy. He constructed a ranch-style home in Georgia in 1961 for his family; it is currently estimated to be worth $210,000. The Washington Post claims that Carter chose not to leverage his time in the White House into a financial advantage and instead returned to this house after leaving office. “I don’t see anything wrong with it, and I don’t hold it against other people,” he remarked. Simply put, I never really wanted to be wealthy. Carter had sold the peanut company and was deeply in debt, but he was able to maintain a comfortable standard of living because to his $217,000 pension.
According to data from the General Services Administration for the 2019 fiscal year, Carter spent $456,000 on expenses. This is much less than the budgets allotted for other former presidents, like George H. W. Bush, who spent $952,000, and even less than the $1 million that each of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush spent.
Furthermore, Carter has been seen often purchasing his clothing from the Dollar General store that is close by. Even when he does travel, he would rather take commercial aircraft over private ones. Following his term as president, Carter continued to teach Sunday school at a nearby Baptist church and at Emory University.
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