Having been in the culinary field from the age of 13, I was taught how to work hard. I also learned to stay busy. Being from a very rocky and sometimes hostile home I also learned to keep my head low and stick to myself. I have always been one to keep 2 or 3 jobs and stay late.
Another philosophy I got as I grew was nobody cares what you have to say and if it is good they will take ownership of it for themselves. At age11 or 12 I specifically remember laying on my back in a corn field, that had been cut but not tilled, thinking to myself is this really all life is going to offer me? My answer came shortly after that when my Mom, who looking back was going through some pretty major challenges herself called her old friend and said I can’t be a mother right now, come and pick him up.
That day in my life was what is often referred to as a pivotal point in my life. You see up to that very day I was in 7th grade and after 70 some days of school I had actually been physically in classes less than 10 times. I had a network of friends at that time that had my back. I was marked present every day and was actually carrying a C average. I had mixed feelings as I moved across the state and was put in a new school that had more people in gym class then was in my entire grade level in my old school.
My foster mom had one rule. Bet you are wondering what that one rule was aren’t you? Do things my way and don’t get in trouble. I was 13 and she and her army of, watch Joe’s every move warriors, went to work to turn around that little trouble maker! Looking back, I am very thankful for the fact she put me to work. I worked and the same place she did I cut the grass, pulled weeds, trimmed hedges and swept a lot of dirt. While going to school and keeping up with this new concept I learned called homework. Every night at about 10 I fell in my bed to tired to even move.
As I slowly got a grip on that rigorous schedule you might have guessed she found more for me to do. When I went to the High school 2 years later I was getting up at 5:30 then riding my bike 3 miles to work then 5 miles to school then back to work after school and then home about 7:30 every night. I surprisingly still found a little energy to mow the yards and help the neighbors. That work ethic continued as I realized the benefits of being one of the few that had a car my senior year.