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Birth
My time line begins January 11, 1979, the day I was born. I am the second oldest of five children. At the time of my birth, my mother was 19 and my father was 26. My mother was 16 when she had my older sister. We were poor and there was a lot of turmoil in the household growing up. My father was abusive to my mother and he often got into trouble for selling drugs (exo). It was very hard on my mother and us kids. We relied on public assistance/social programs (macro) to survive. -
Won State 1600 Meter Relay - All Classes
Event #1. Age 14 years old: Winning the Mile Relay in track my Freshmen year of High School, not only beating our class, but all classes in our State. This moment changed my life in that it helped me develop confidence in myself and strength to keep going. Prior to this, I always tried my hardest in everything, but never really got to prove that I was more than just a quiet kid from a poor family. I was on cloud nine and kept striving to achieve more (industry)! -
Joined the Military - SD National Guard
Event #2. I joined the South Dakota National Guard when I was 17 years old (December 2, 1996). This choice led to more self-esteem, confidence in my abilities, made me feel proud, and would ensure I could get a college education (through the GI Bill). It was the only way, I believed, that I would get the chance to go to college (macro). -
High School Graduation
Event #3. Age 18 years old: I graduated High School in May of 1997 as an honor student. I tried so hard in High School, since I was called dumb or stupid by other kids when I was young. Knowing that I could do well gave me the confidence to go to college and know I could thrive in an educational setting. Before going college though, I had to attend Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (macro) in lieu of the beginning the Fall Semester. -
Graduated from College - Bachelors Degree
Event #4 Age 22 years old: I graduated from college (macro) in December 2002, Magna Cum Laude. It was a very proud day - I was growing stronger emotionally and felt like I was finding my place in the world. I now had to find a job though, which was hard in the winter months as an elementary teacher. -
War
Event #5. Age 23 years old: On January 24, 2003, my National Guard Unit was activated and mobilized to go to Iraq (macro). I belonged to a Multi-Role Bridge Company that was to lead the 4th Infantry Division into Iraq. We spent a year in central Iraq, surviving rocket and mortar attacks, IEDs, and gunfire. Thank God we all came home alive. This gave me the strength to believe that I can get through anything that life threw at me. -
Hired by Federal Government
Event #6. I obtained employment (age 32)with the US Dept. of Labor - Veterans Employment and Training Service (mezzo in immediate area, macro nationwide). I have been working in this position for almost 6 years now and I have grown more emotionally healthy in these 6 years, than at any other time in my life. I now lead a national subcommittee in making policy and guidance in for one of our programs. This program is available in every state for wounded veterans. -
Current
So, this takes me to the present. I am happier than I ever have been and am so thankful for all the trajectories that led me here. I am grateful to get the opportunity to work on my Masters in Social Work, for it is something I believe I was born to do. There is not a day that goes by that I am not thankful for where I am, what and who I have around me, and the people/events that helped me get here. I also have a great man in my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing that got me here, good or bad.
