I Was Ashamed My Dad Was the School Janitor... Until Graduation

I Was Ashamed My Dad Was the School Janitor My dad was the janitor at my school. And I pretended I didn't know him. It was an expensive private school. Everyone had rich parents. Except me. When the kids laughed at the janitor, I laughed too. I hated myself for it. At home, I never asked why he worked nights, or why his hands were always cut and tired. Then, on graduation day, the principal called me to the office. You know your fees were never paid with money, she said. Your father cleaned this school every night, for four years, to pay for you. Every hallway I walked through, he had cleaned. Every night. For me. On stage, I threw away my speech. And I pointed to the back of the hall. That man is my dad. He's the reason I'm standing here. I'm sorry I was ever ashamed. I'll never be ashamed again. Because the best man I know... was the janitor at my school.