Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Answering God's Call

The topic that I wanted to write about this week is one that is so awesome and it is the story of how I landed this job. I am so amazed and undeservingly blessed. God is good! I believe that every person on this Earth is called to do something wonderful for God; every person who believes in Him and has trusted in Him for salvation at a point in their life is called in some way to spread His word. I've learned that in order to fulfill that purpose in life, one must first go through some things; I sure have, but looking at my life as a whole, I can see that God has never left my side, instead He has been working behind the scenes the whole time. I have found that one cannot successfully run from God's calling for their life; there have been several indicators of my future that I failed to see at the time, but it is awesome how He uses the most little of circumstances to prepare one for the future He sees: 

Indicator #1 : My Experience with WV Rehabilitation Services: I had a more than rough experience as a client in West Virginia's disability rehabilitation services program; they didn't provide any guidance or any form of emotional support during my college days. As a blogger and eventual virtual mentor of clients involved in Next Right Steps, I want to work hard to give as much support, guidance, and encouragement as I can. I'm looking forward to being able to counsel them and provide tutoring via video chat; I'm hoping to travel and meet them and their families as well. I would not have been able to do my job if it wasn't for the Rehab experience. 

Indicator # 2: Experience with D.R.U.M.S: I loved being a part of Bridge Valley Community & Technical College; looking back, that time in my life played a huge role in preparing me for this. I was an active member of D.R.U.M.S (Disability Reliance Upon Mentoring Services); this was a disability advocacy club that a dear friend of mine started andwe worked hard to spread disability awareness around campus; it was a club where no one felt "different." I had so much fun.

Indicator #3: Renee Stringfellow: I will call her by name in this post just because she's awesome and I adore her; she taught a course I took called Introduction to Behavioral Health; (her program specialities included: autism, addictions, mental illnesses, physical disabilities, etc.) I only took it as an elective, and I was a completely different major, but I learned so much about how to deal with people who face challenges. I loved her class; she influenced my self awareness and personal advocacy and she never once used the word "disabled". I owe a thank you to her for showing me how to truly help and inspire clients.

Indicator #4: Saying No to my Gift, and Tryingto Create Happiness: Writing had always been a talent of mine and I enjoyed my English courses so much; teachers around me took notice of it, even as early as middle school. When I got to college, I had two separate professors absolutely beg me to pursue writing; Renee even asked me several times to join her program, but I wouldn't do it. I wanted to do what I had decided to do and that was it! I spent years switching majors and no matter what I did, I never was truly satisfied; I should have realized trying to run from God would only bring temporary happiness and lingering dysfunction into my life, and that He would eventually come looking for me. 

Indicator #5: How God Got Me to Say "Yes": I fell into a very deep depression after college, and just about gave up any hope of ever being truly happy and at peace. I longed so much for the joy other Christians had; someone told me that nothing can happen outside of God's control, and that my relationship with Him was more important than any friendship on Earth; even being saved, I sadly couldn't understand at the time. I didn't feel well and everything seemed to be going wrong. I pondered over that statement for months, and one night I got on my knees and tearfully told God, "I can't do this", "I can't make it on my own", and told Him I would do whatever He wanted me to do. I had suffered for years with depression and somehow this time around I knew that I would not get better until I obeyed Him. I eventually went to the altar and rededicated my life to Him. I was so happy that night! A few weeks later, at my aunt's wedding reception, I got offered this job and I said "Yes!". The peace and happiness I feel in my heart when I wake up every morning is remarkable; even though I tried to run, I still ended up right where God wanted me. 

"And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called, according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Looking Beyond a Disability

A simple question that I was asked to write about this week is one that really intrigued me, and that question was "What do you think of me?",  and it prompted me to interview several people I have come into contact with in various parts of my life; I felt that these individuals no longer "see" my disability, but instead they see me for the person I am on the inside. 


Today, I am known to be very smart, kind, dedicated, strong willed and courageous. I wasn't always so much of a fighter. I grew up as a shy and quiet little girl who slowly learned that she was smart and could learn anything despite her disability; being smart was the one thing that got me through being picked on by my peers, and it was also the very thing that gave me my first bit of confidence. I was great at school. However, I have gained so much more of it by experiences and slowly adapting to life as it is. I've come to realize my strength and talent as a writer. I have also survived many really tough situations that would make others crumble. I've kept a smile the whole way, because that's what you have to do in life, and that outlook has made me the confident person I am today. 


The people who only see me for my weaknesses are those who I don't allow in my life anymore. I've always had a huge heart for everyone, and if you're my friend, I will be as loyal and loving as I can possibly be. I've had to learn through time that not everyone is a friend, and if I feel someone is not enhancing my life then I cut them out and move on. I can happily say my adult life has been filled with some awesome people; I have a few close childhood friends that I still talk to as well. In life, I have discovered four important steps that can help one to truly see themselves beyond their disability; they are:

1) Always Be Yourself: No matter your situation, you should never deviate from your true self. At the end of day, others opinions of you aren't what counts, because that's all they are and they don't define a person; however, if you want to make a lasting impression on someone, it should always be a positive one. You would be surprised at the lives you'll touch and how great it will feel when you know your attitude has made someone's day.   

2)Keep Moving Forward: It is easy for all of us to look back at one point of our lives and feel sad about a situation or obstacle we've struggled with. That's human nature. We can't allow our minds to hold us back from something great that God has planned for us, and we can't give power to our feelings and let them take away our joy. Don't be a victim of your circumstances. Keep moving forward! 

3)Keep Striving: Every accomplishment is awesome. Never stop working towards your goals. Even though I never made it on the basketball team, after tryouts were over I decided to be the team manager for a few games my 7th grade year. Get involved and keep striving!

4)Realize Life Isn't Going to Be Easy: Lastly, you should know that life can be complicated and putting on a brave face can be difficult; this can even apply to the nondisabled person. A happy and confident existence is possible if you help yourself to know that everyone is unique for a special reason; there is purpose in absolutely everything and applying these "steps" to your life is the key because doing so will help you find your own voice and that equals confidence.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Get Up and Live!




Get Up and Live!

September 15, 2015

Four years ago, I transferred to Kanawha Valley Community & Technical College (now Bridge Valley) from West Virginia State University and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Bridge Valley provided support that I really needed, and deciding to go there helped me achieve the "college graduate" dream while excelling academically and enjoying myself because of the smaller classes and personable professors; I felt unmotivated at State and to be honest, most of the professors at a university don't care about what a person might be going through in their personal life. I am so grateful to have experienced the love and emotional support of my teachers, friends and student services workers while at Bridge Valley. I am amazed at how much everyone there truly cares about the students, their lives, and what's happening with them; it's not just a school for me but also a second family.  

Self acceptance is something that I have always struggled with and I have to say the people that I became close friends with truly taught me a lot about life and their kindness is something I will always cherish. I learned how to be a true friend and how to own who I am despite my challenges. The single resource I found most useful in college was the extended test time provided by the disability services at the school.   

My decision to pursue a career in medical coding came after I had graduated; I took a coding class right before my last semester and I loved it! I loved the brain challenge! I knew that being a coder wouldn't be a physically demanding job. I had to find work that I would love and an occupation that I could handle in spite of  being handicapped. Against my mother's wishes, I returned to Bridge Valley, majoring in their medical coding program. I wanted to try anything to make myself more employable. The single most important thing I have learned throughout life is not to focus on what can't be done, but to focus on the positive and being a better advocate for your life. How do you do that? In my life, there have been two major ways of doing so that I have focused on.

Conquer Your Feelings: I want to start this point off by saying that there is no possible way to understand the multitude of sadness, grief, longing for acceptance, the feeling of "why me?" and just a feeling of wishing for normalcy unless you have lived through it. Depression really sucks. I've been there. The parents aren't the only one who grieve for the child they wish they had. I've often wondered who I would have been. I've gone through a deep sadness of feeling like I'm nothing in this world. I know what it feels like to identify yourself with others because you feel you have no true sense of self. People with disabilities are natural crowd pleasers and we all tend to dwell on the negative. At some point, you have to learn to be in control of your own happiness and success. It is hard. The best thing you can do is pray for strength, get up and live your life! Don't give up!   

You Are Smart Enough: Let people see how brilliant you are and what you're capable of. Show them that you can adapt to any situation. Show them you're dependable. There are so many misconceptions about people with disabilities not being able to do much. In my case, I may not complete a task exactly like someone else, but I am a perfectionist with all that I do. You won't get that with just anybody. Prove to them your limitations can be a strength and not a liability. In all reality, we are just like everyone else!   

 If you'll do these couple of things, you still may not get that job you want or the life you think you should have, but I guarantee that you will make quite the impression on this world. Stay strong! 
  

A Thought For Your Day

  The Lord placed this thought on my heart last night, and I felt like sharing it today.  It's easy to become so busy serving the Lord ...