While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that everyone is just ghosting their lives away, we’ve seen countless examples of how strong the work ethic is on every street and in every neighborhood in America. Hard work is alive and well and we asked some of the hardest working folks we know how they developed their work ethic.

Anoushka Darlene Braganza

My work ethic stems from a combination of personal experiences, deep curiosity, and an intrinsic drive to create. Growing up, I learned early on the value of persistence and hard work—my interests were always evolving, and it wasn’t always easy to balance the desire to explore new ideas with the discipline needed to master them. Whether it was trying my hand at crocheting one day or furniture making the next, I realized that dedication was key to truly understanding and pushing the boundaries of any creative practice. Read More>>

Gabrielle Lyles

My work ethic comes from watching my parents get up and grind every single day. My father was one of the few Black engineers to not only work at, but also lead, a local steel plant — a true example of perseverance and excellence. My mother, a dedicated government worker, made sure I stayed busy and well-rounded, enrolling me in every extracurricular you could imagine: dance, cheer, volleyball, softball, and more. Read More>>

Kaliyah Cannon

I owe my work ethic to my dad, Matthew. Growing up, I watched him work tirelessly—rain or shine, snow or heat, it didn’t matter. He showed up every single day. And when his regular hours were over, he was either on call or lending a hand to someone in need, never turning away from the opportunity to help.

We weren’t a wealthy family by any means, but my dad always found a way to provide. Whether it meant working overtime or picking up extra shifts, he made sure that my siblings and I had everything we needed—and often, even what we simply hoped for. His selflessness and unwavering commitment left a lasting impression on me. Read More>>

Mackenzie Moser

I get my work ethic from my parents and my grandmother, Lillie Ann. They were the ones who showed me what it means to work hard and never give up. Growing up, I saw them push through tough times with grit and determination, and they always reminded me that if you really want something, you have to be willing to put in the effort. It wasn’t just something they said—it was how they lived. Watching them gave me a deep respect for hard work, and it’s something that’s stayed with me ever since. Read More>>

Charonda Boswell

I get my work ethic from my mother. I was raised in a single-parent home, and from a young age, I watched her carry the weight of the world on her shoulders without ever complaining. She worked long hours, yet still found time to be present, supportive, and loving. Her resilience, determination, and ability to keep moving forward—no matter how hard things got—left a lasting impression on me. She taught me that success doesn’t come from talent alone, but from showing up every day, putting in the effort, and staying consistent even when no one is watching.  Read More>>

Matthew Vigil

My biggest work ethic comes from my parents and my family. I am not a military brat but several of my family members are military and/or where raised under that type of household. Growing up my parents were kind of strict yet fair. My brother and I didn’t get rewarded for just nothing we had to work for it. Even something small, our parents would teach us the value of hard work and just what it can lead to. With that we did grow up quite comfortably in the middle class, making it easy to help us pursue our passions. At a very young age I discovered music and began playing and leaning the violin. I wasn’t forced like some children, I willingly wanted to learn as I was interested.  Read More>>

 ROBIN POLLARD

I was instilled with a strong work ethic early on in life from my parents, Oren and Kathleen Pollard. Mom and Dad were Midwest farmers who grew a successful farming business over the span of 60 years. It was their grit, hard work, and determination that taught my two sisters and me the importance putting in the necessary time and effort to achieve the desired results. Read More>>

Rylan Stedman

A lot of it comes from my own drive to make the most out of every opportunity I have. I’ve always believed that if you’re going to commit to something, you should give it your all. On top of that, my family has always supported me, especially during times when things didn’t go my way. In high school, playing basketball and working with a trainer taught me the importance of giving 110%. Later, when I shifted into choir and music, I learned how rewarding it is to work hard and see real progress, eventually joining a barbershop octet and serving as president of a music honor society. Read More>>

Madilyn DuBois

My work ethic developed at a very young age, when I secured my first job while only in 8th grade. I was raised to work for what I wanted, versus getting things handed to me. I worked my way through high school, undergrad, and grad school while earning my education at the same time. It was tough, but this experience gave me the work ethic, grit, and consistency to chase my goals as a young professional turned entrepreneur. Read More>>

 Jane Jones

I get my work ethic from my parents. They are immigrants from Laos, and my brother and I are first-generation born here in the United States. Watching them as I grew up was a constant source of inspiration. English wasn’t their first language, yet they still managed to build a life here and provide everything we needed—and more.

I saw them work tirelessly to give us stability. They bought their first home for our family, made sure we always had a roof over our heads, food on the table, and even those must-have Jordans my brother wanted. No matter what, they always had jobs, always kept pushing forward. That kind of hustle became ingrained in me. Read More>>

Jake Before

I credit my work ethic to when I was a teenager working and volunteering at a summer camp. It was a camp for kids to come to for a week to get outside and enjoy the summer instead of being inside at home. I started out on staff which was mostly maintenance of the grounds and came back as a counselor the following year. At that time it was even good for me to get outside instead of playing video games all summer. Working in the heat definitely helped me develop resilience. After a few years of counseling I became head of tech where I ran front of house sound for the shows, took photos, and edited a video of the campers having fun and playing games throughout the week. Read More>>

Mahsa Darabi

An immigrant to a new land, my mother overcame the initial hurdles of a language barrier and the responsibility of raising four children to build an extraordinary life. Starting from scratch, she established a teaching business that has positively impacted hundreds of families for over three decades. Beyond her professional success, her deep commitment to community shines through her constant willingness to assist those in need, particularly immigrants and refugees embarking on their own journeys. She never gives up. Read More>>

Mariam Nuga

My work ethic is deeply rooted in a combination of personal values, early life experiences, and the environments I chose to grow in. From a young age, I understood the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and taking pride in whatever you build — whether it’s a system, a solution, or a relationship.

Academically, I always pushed myself to excel — earning a First-Class Honors degree in Computing — but it was stepping into the professional world that really sharpened my discipline. Working in high-performance environments — where reliability, innovation, and ownership weren’t just encouraged but expected — helped reinforce my drive. Read More>>

Destiny Bureau

I come from very humble beginnings and learned early on that if I wanted something, I had to work for it. I grew up watching my grandparents run a carpentry business and saw firsthand the true meaning of hard work. They showed me what it means to be dedicated, resourceful, and resilient. No task was ever beneath them, and they took pride in their work.

I didn’t always have the same opportunities as my peers, but that never stopped me. I found ways to create opportunities for myself. Every challenge I faced taught me the value of perseverance. I’ve worked multiple jobs at once, taken risks, and stepped out of my comfort zone more times than I can count. Through it all, I’ve learned that you can’t beat the person who doesn’t stop trying, and that’s me. I am relentless in achieving my goals. Read More>>

Brent Metcalf

I would say I get my work ethic from my dad. Growing up, I watched him work incredibly hard — often starting before the sun came up and finishing well after it went down. He not only worked full-time, sometimes putting in overtime to help make ends meet, but he also came home and put just as much effort into taking care of our house and the farmland we had. He was always moving, always working, seven days a week. Seeing that level of commitment and perseverance day in and day out taught me the importance of dedication, responsibility, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done — values that I carry with me into my own work today. Read More>>

 Jammie Jackson

I get my work ethic from both my parents Brenda and Nathaniel King. They are Georgia and Flordia natives and believed in God and working hard in life despite how people may treat you. They both worked to provide for all of us and never gave up during hard times. Read More>>

Young Spliff

I get my work ethic from my mother. Growing up, I watched her work for other people become one of the Top employees and quit that to go and create her own businesses not just one but multiple always striving to do more and do better not just for herself obviously, you know for the family. I’m pretty sure that’s where I get it from. That amazing woman. Read More>>

Madison Forristall

I work for a non-profit called Best Buddies International. We serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I am the deputy director for Eunie’s Buddies, the family support pillar in Best Buddies. The Family Support Program provides one to one mentorships for parents who either just got a diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability for their child or are still struggling with the diagnosis. They are paired with a parent who has been down that road, they know how to navigate it and they’re ready to be a friend to these newer parents.  Read More>>

Leonardo Cococcia

From the music itself, and from great mentors.

I developed my musicality with jazz, specifically by learning some of my favorite solos by ear. That kind of practice forces you to pay attention to every detail of the recorded performance you’re trying to reproduce on your instrument, and that takes a lot of hours and dedication, so it forces you to not be approximative to properly learn jazz language in the most accurate way. Read More>>

Frank Pitchford

Honestly, it starts with my family. I come from a big one—a really big one. One set of grandparents had five children, the other had thirteen. So growing up, I had no shortage of examples to watch and learn from. I saw the hustle, the sacrifice, the unwavering sense of responsibility passed down through generations.

But the two people who shaped me the most were my parents. My mother has been a nurse for over 30 years. She’s done it all—private duty, hospital floors, and everything in between. Her work wasn’t just about long hours and physical labor. It was about compassion, consistency, and showing up—no matter what. And she didn’t just clock in and out of her job—she came home to do the hardest one of all: being a single mother to two kids. Watching her handle everything with grace, even on the hardest days, taught me what strength really looks like. Read More>>