When Julia was 13, going into Grade 8, her mom said she would buy her the basic school supplies. But if Julia wanted the fancy ones—like gel pens, notebooks with designs, or markers—she’d have to buy them herself. Julia was disappointed but also motivated. Her mom suggested working on the family farm, but Julia didn’t want to do that.
Instead, she decided to earn money by babysitting. Her mom was excited that she wanted a job. A couple of years later, Julia became a supervisor for a government-funded program. It helped elderly people get support without having to pay.
In the mornings, she ran a daycare. She planned fun activities like crafts, games, and nature walks. In the afternoons, she helped seniors with chores around their homes. They often asked her to do odd jobs.
One day, she went to help a woman. The woman had a wood stove, and her walls were so dirty they looked grey. Julia cleaned for over three hours. To her surprise, the walls underneath were actually white.
The ceilings were 10 feet tall, and she had to use a ladder to clean the top. It was hard work. The woman didn’t say much or offer any water. She just sat and watched.
Even though it was exhausting, Julia felt proud when the room looked clean. But she also thought, I’m never answering another call like this one. She didn’t get paid for that job, but it taught her a lot. After that summer, she kept babysitting.
She never did end up working on the farm. From that job, Julia learned endurance, how to clean well... and that she never wanted to be a house cleaner!