Autobiography

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The first five and a half years of my life were spent in New York state. My parents attended Elim Bible Institute while they raised us among my maternal relatives. Most of what I recall of those days is prompted by pictures in old family albums and such. Holidays are usually easiest to remember. One Christmas, my uncle Tony dressed up like Santa Claus and brought us toys to put under the tree. I also remember my family gathering together to sing songs in Spanish, our native language. I remember many other scenes, but it would take too long to list them here.

Outside of family matters, times were far from easy. My father worked as a car mechanic to support us while my mother worked as a bookkeeper in a bank as well as being a housewife. Fortunately, there was plenty of help from our relatives. I have never lacked any family support in my life. That's what comes from having a strong heritage. It tends to knit people together in ways which would be difficult to manage otherwise.

My family moved to Delhi, California, in 1974. I went to Atwater Elementary School where I met my best friend Jason Rosado. We were not related, though we have the same last name. After we moved to Merced in 1976, I went to Chenoweth Elementary School. I began learning to play the violin at that time. In 1976, my parents bought the Manna Bible Book Store, and two years later I began attending Tenaya Junior High School, just one block from my home. My favorite teacher was Mr. Dayton from whom I studied English in the seventh grade. He was short like me, and I liked his teaching style. My best subject was math. I also continued playing the violin. I earned several academic honors and graduated in June of 1981 with a 3.0 GPA. Afterwards, my father gave me a trophy for scholastic achievement which I still keep for sentimental reasons.

Merced High School was a difficult step for me. I was shy and didn't make friends easily. This initially earned me a bookworm's reputation, but I didn't mind. After a certain period of adjustment, I did well enough for myself and graduated in 1985.

My parent's gave me my first job in their bookstore when I was 10. I kept working there throughout my high school and early adult years until my father closed it in 1994. I remember so many things about that place, both good and bad. It, more than anything else in my life, instilled a love of reading in me which I have never lost. But it really was a go-nowhere job that offered me little in the way of a career. So I decided to go to college in 1993. I had taken business courses before, but never earned a degree. I changed my major to accounting, a field for which I have shown promise, and earned a two-year degree in 1995.

I worked as a computer technician/junior bookkeeper in a local accountant's office for about eight months after graduation. To get anywhere in the business world, however, one generally needs at least a four-year degree and some experience. I had the latter, thanks to the bookstore, but not the former. So I quit my job, moved into an apartment in Fresno and fulfilled a life-long dream by registering for the fall 1995 semester at CSU Fresno.

That's where my life stands at this time. My long-term scholastic goal is to earn an MBA with an accountancy option. I have no wife or children, so I can concentrate exclusively on my education for now. In summary, my life is largely dominated by my family, my schooling and my career.

Michael Rosado, circa 1996

Last updated on stardate February 13, 2005