Just recently a month ago I was talking to my mother about the past. My mother is originally from the eastern border of the Navajo Nation reservation in very small communities that may have less than fifty families in one Chapter House area. We often make frequent trips back to Pueblo Pintado, NM to either improve the infrastructure of the hogan, continue the process of building the wooden fence, or haul water to irrigate the trees we are growing. My uncle used to live there, it was a long process of hauling construction materials to build him his first home and for many years he was homeless. Just a year after he finished his hogan, sadly he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and later on within that same year he was gone. My mother took care of her brother just like we did with my grandfather while I was in high school. As I begin to build a stronger connection to my mothers side of the family over the years I soon realize that I need to know the background of who I am. Honestly in any Native American culture we have the ability and personal decision to take care of family. I'm sure in other essays students may talk about tradition, culture, language, art, but what is most important is giving back to family even if its just a day to many years. That one thing my parents did for there parents in being a caretaker, and I've decided to follow those same foot steps. Among my closests friends I'm the oldest one who a lot of times put my dreams and ambitions aside to be there for my family in their lowest moments of their life. Most importantly I believe that is why I am blessed to make it this far in my education is my family teachings of giving back. So why is giving back so important? Its very simple, even just giving a little at a time will add up to more opportunities in the future. Going back to the story of my grandfather he was a lifelong employee with Pacific Union working on the railroad while his three children and wife were at home nearby Pueblo Pintado, NM. My grandfather's father owned a lot of scattered areas of land so the family would often live in one area for a period of time and move. Ideally they were all nearby areas in somewhat close proximities to one another. So a month ago, I asked my mom, "Mom you always told me that you and your siblings would herd sheep all day and everyday. Exactly how did the family accumulated the hundreds of sheep?" My mom replied: Grandpa would often help others who paid him in sheep by giving the livestock in return. Over time those sheep grew in large numbers which made the task for the children to take the challenge of being a caretaker for them in a way. My grandpa always knew that investments over time will be needed for family in the future. After my mothers mom passed away a few years after highschool graduation, the children sold all of the sheep to start a new life on their own. My mom eventually became a nurse. My grandpa also saved money for me to start community college which is now a doctorate program in occupational therapy. I kept a promise to my grandfather, and a lot of younger generation make their own decisions and rarely listen to their elders. Ever since I was born I always had an open heart.