Not Born Rich but Raised Rich in Love: How Hardship, Faith, and Determination Helped Me Build a Life for My Family

Hey, I’m Julie Anne, but most people just call me Julz. Glad you’re here. So, a bit about me, I grew up pretty quiet, and I’m still that way when you first meet me. But once you get to know me, you’ll see I’m warm and I really care about people. This place feels right for sharing my life, the good stuff, the hard times, what lights me up, and the mistakes that end up teaching me the most. Stick around if you want. I hope as you read, you’ll get to know who I really am, and maybe even find a little spark of inspiration in my journey as a daughter, mom, and wife.

Growing up wasn’t simple. We never had much, but our home is full of love and stubborn determination. My grandparents took care of me, they weren’t just the people who raised me up, they were my whole world. Even when times got hard, they gave everything they had. Education mattered to them more than anything, so they somehow managed to send me into a private school. Then my grandfather got sick. Suddenly, we were drowning in bills, and we had to make some tough choices. I moved to public school so we could catch a break financially. That’s when it hits me, life doesn’t always deal a fair hand, but you figure out how to keep going anyway.

Those tough years really shaped me. I made myself a promise, I wouldn’t let any chance slip by. My grandparents sacrificed very much, worked themselves tired every day, and I couldn’t ignore that. When college rolled around, I picked the Nursing Course. I wanted something real, something that mattered. Watching my grandparents and parents do everything just to keep me in school hit me hard. You can see the stress on their faces, but right there with it was hope. They kept moving forward, no matter what happened. That changed me a lot. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about chasing my own life goals. I started thinking about how I can help my family, too.

Leaving school wasn’t some easy choice. I did it because I needed to help out at home, put food on the table, make sure my siblings could stay in school. I couldn’t just watch and just do nothing. Letting go of my own plans stung, but honestly, family always come first for me. That decision forced me to grow up fast. I found out what responsibility and sacrifice really feel like, not the stuff people talk about, but the real thing.

I ended up working at a BPO for nine years. At first, I thought having a job meant finally being free, my own money, my own rules. Turns out, it’s not that simple. You have to work for every bit you earn, and you realize pretty quick how tough it is to make ends meet. You figure out how to stretch every paycheck, what you can live without, and you start to appreciate payday in a whole new way. Honestly, those years gives me more than just a steady income. I learned how to be disciplined, how to stick it out, and how to push through when life gets really hard.

I just started working from home, and honestly, it’s changed everything. Now I’m an Executive Assistant for an international brokerage, never thought I’d say that, but here I am, actually loving what I do. The real win? Time. I get to be with my family, catching all those everyday moments. I’m not just hearing about my kids growing up after the fact, I’m right there, living it with them. This job always felt out of reach, like something other people landed. But now, it’s mine. I’m really doing it now. A dream come true.

We squeeze into a small apartment, me, my common-law husband, and our three kids. It’s noisy, a bit wild, but honestly, there’s so much laughter and so many big dreams packed in here. We don’t have everything, not even close, but having each other feels like plenty most days. We celebrate every win, even the little ones. And when life gets tough, we pull each other through and keep going, always hoping things turn out even better for our kids.

My oldest just finished her third year of college, my second is about to start their first year, and my youngest? Still in third grade. Watching them grow up, chase their passions, and figure out who they are,it honestly makes me proud. All those late nights, the sacrifices, the tough times,they’re all worth it when I see my kids moving ahead.

Sometimes I imagine myself looking back at this in five years. I can almost hear myself saying, “Their success is my success.” That’s what I want most,to see them graduate, find their place, and build lives that makes them happy.

When I talked with @antonettepost and @chinito about this opportunity, I realized it’s a real chance to show who I am, even though I’m usually shy. Here, I get to tell the world who the real me. I want to grow as a writer, and this platform feels like the perfect place for that. I can connect with people from very far away, share my thoughts, and find others who understand how I feel. And yes, I know I can’t use any AI tools here. I promise I’ll stick to that, no question.

Thanks for reading my story and sticking with me. I’m just getting started. I hope you’ll be here for whatever comes next.

Photos are mine. Edited in Canva.