Young briefly explains how the Reconstruction era affected her father's work as a farmer and how he was able to rise above hard times to prosper later on. Emphasizing his confidence and perseverance, she explains how by the turn of the twentieth century, his business acumen had allowed him to attain the kind of social mobility that he sought for his children. As earlier in the interview, she again emphasizes that her parents worked hard to send their children to college; however, here she recalls that her father believed it was more important for his daughters to attend college than it was for his sons. She connects his attitude and his encouragement to her success at Vanderbilt in assuming leadership roles, specifically in helping to establish the first sorority on campus.