Craythorn,Joshua

9-5-21
EDU 280
Professor Flowers
Cultural Autobiography.
My name is Joshua Craythorn. I was born in Great Falls, Montana, but I grew up all over the

United States and even in Europe for some time. My father was in the United States Air Force

and so I grew up living on military bases. As such I learned about discipline, hard work, and

honor. My parents are both from the same small farming town of Heyburn, Idaho. My dad had

never lived outside of that local area until he joined the military. My mom was a military brat as

well, so she had lived all over until her dad moved back to his hometown area. My family roots

run deep in southern Idaho and Northern Utah. I still spend part of the summers when I can in

Idaho farm country.

Many of the first people to settle areas of Utah and Idaho where my ancestors. Most of these

people had come west with the Mormon pioneers and settled the area with very little personal

property and possessions. That has carried on into my life. I am a member of The Church of

Jesus of Latter-Day Saints. Because of this my morals, values, and beliefs are founded in

Christianity. I did not serve a mission but am still very involved in my community and in my

church and try to live like Christ every day. I still celebrate all the normal holidays as everyone

else. My personal beliefs are also why family is so important to me. In church we learn about

how family is the most important relationships you will have in this life. I have been blessed to

have great siblings. My brother is four years younger than me, and we hated each other until he
joined the army. Now he is my best friend even if we don’t see each other often. My sister is

younger and lives nearby with my nieces who are great.

My family name Craythorn comes from England and parts of northern Europe. Growing up I

just saw myself as a white male in America, nothing special. Later, I found out my family name

runs through nobles and kings of Medieval Europe. In England the name Craythorn was still in

parliament until recently. The English side of the family refuses to acknowledge the “Yankee”

side of the family.

This assignment has made me look at how much my view of myself changed from not caring

so much about my family name and culture when younger to how and what I want my kids to

know.