Seeing tears on his father’s face was incentive enough to get John Trybulec to pass Accounnting 101.
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For the 5th time, I was enrolled in basic Accounting101 — needing to pass the class so I could graduate from college. The guys in my dorm couldn’t help me — nor could the tutors or 2 sessions with the professor of the class.
I made the ride from Ypsilanti to Detroit to get some tutoring from my father who worked in accounting for Chrysler Corporation.
He was incredibly gifted with numbers and he represented my last hope to pass the class.
Even though it was along time ago, I remember my tutoring session — every detail.
I was sitting at the kitchen table looking at my father. His elbows were on the table and his head was resting in his hands.
A tear rolled down his cheek.
He revealed his face and said, “You need to pass this accounting class or I will have to get you a job putting bumpers on cars. Putting on bumpers is good honest work.”
He wiped the tear away with his nicotine stained finger.
It was an “in your face reality moment”… and it was my face.
He leaned back in his chair.
“So, it is up to you, focus on what I am saying, understand the information, pass the class and get your Mass Communications degree or… put bumpers on cars. What do you want to do?”
I studied with my father until 3 in the morning. I went back to school and passed the class with an 83.
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Originally posted on LinkedIn
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