My mother, a teacher, encouraged me to use my creativity as an actual way to make a living, and my father, a Mississippi physician, did two things. First, he taught me that all human beings should be treated equally because no one is better than anyone else, and he never pressured me to become a doctor.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker highlights the influence of their parents in shaping their beliefs and career path. The mother, being a teacher, instilled a belief in the value of creativity and encouraged its practical use to provide a livelihood. Meanwhile, the father, a physician, taught the importance of equality and treating all individuals on the same level, not favoring one over the other. Additionally, the father's lack of pressure to follow in his professional footsteps allowed the speaker to choose their own path rather than conforming to familial expectations.

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