I'm always interested in how people become who they are.
I know most people will frown upon this, but I did not grow up in an atmosphere where reading or learning was considered important. My parents didn't buy us books or educational materials aside what was needed for school, though we were encouraged to do well in school, and they got us tutors when we needed them. The only book I can remember my Mom reading to us as kids (besides Bible devotionals) was "Goodnight Moon", and as an adult, I bought my own copy, which will forever be a part of my permanent library. (I just recently discovered "Goodnight iPad"... Sigh. The don't make 'em like they used to.)
But my family came from a background of people who had built their careers by starting at the bottom, doing the things no one else wanted to do, and eventually making a good run of it--without any additional education, so the emphasis in my family was always work. This was also during a time in which education wasn't seen as the cornerstone as it is today. And my siblings and I have also found success in work that did not require a higher education, even though in some cases, it was obtained on the side. My parents never pushed any of us to go to college at all, but were fully supportive when we made the decisions to go. Ironically, we all wound up in jobs in which our degrees are not required. (Oh, the money I could have saved...)
A few weeks ago, my Mom and I were watching a pair of cardinals outside the window. I told her I was going to look them up on Wikipedia for more information and she proclaimed in mock horror, "Oh no! NOT something educational!! You mean I'm going to have to LEARN something?? NNOOOO!!!" and we both laughed, knowing how much others would look down at us for saying that.
She always says, "I have no idea how I wound up with such intellectual children."
(P.S. Don't tell her I'm NOT the intellectual one. It just might break her heart.
)