The road I previously traveled was now their plight. the pain and hopelessness that they expressed to me was so familiar I felt and understood their pain. I felt an obligation to share with them all that I had to endure and how no matter the obstacles still I rise. this is the moment I identified the why to my existence and the reason why I had to suffer. The reality of it all was magnified 10 times greater when I was hired to work with adolescents that travel down the path that I had traveled. I began to understand that They were my "Why" to my existence and the pain and troubles was the "How". If I failed to accomplish my goals and my destiny I may not get a chance to impact there lives and the work I was put here on earth to do is left undone, because it was my specific task that was appointed to me. Since then I have felt a strong sense of accountability to all youth that I come in contact with. I have assumed the responsibility that involves using my life as an example and to use my life to foster encouragement to those that may have self-doubt and to constantly stress to them that if I could make it they can too!.
The stance that I take goes hand in hand with two of my personal values accountability and individuality. I am a firm believer in the saying "to whom much is given much is required." Although most of my life I didn't have much, I was fortunate enough to be blessed with a chance to get myself together. People was placed into my life that was able to see my potential, they brought out the best in me, they saw more in me and they constantly encouraged me to maximize my potential. Therefore, I am accountable to be that beacon of hope and light for those that can't see there way. I guess you can say that I am paying it forward. Individuality is a personal value that is placed very high on my list. It is individuality that enable me to understand that no two people are the same, it is our individual life circumstances that makes us unique.