Become who you are

That is my school's motto, or catch phrase, whatever you want to call it. Either way I love it. The past two years I have attended Carroll Community have been monumental years for me in becoming who I am. As I prepare to graduate I can't help but think of how far I have come since I attended my first class at CCC. So much has changed. My first class I had to tell my teacher that my cell phone stays on, my children need to be able to reach me. They would call me crying and afraid and I'd have to console them as best I could, or race home. We lived in fear, every day, the emotional torture was severe. Now, we are free. My children have peace in their home.
When I first started I didn't know if I could make it. I was unsure, scared, I felt unequal to the task at hand. I was determined, however, to find my strength, to find myself. I was determined to stand on my own, become my own person, and show my children an example they, and I, could be proud of.
A lot changed for us in the years I attended CCC. I not only accomplished my educational goals, I found my strength. I found my independence. I found that there was more to me than I realized, that I could do whatever I set my mind to. I feel as though I didn't just become who I am, but I opened the door for myself to be more than I thought I was. From here I will keep moving forward. I will continue to grow and realize my potential. I won't let anyone take that potential from me again.

I deserve

I deserve happiness
I deserve kindness
I deserve tenderness
I deserve attention
I deserve consideration
I deserve to live without fear
I deserve control of my own life
I deserve peace
I deserve joy
I deserve to be loved

and so do you.