Official News

"I don't say much... but I listen a lot." (Pinterest) 

USILC:

When I stepped into this non profit organization six years ago---I didn't even know how much of my life was gonna be changed forever!! Originally, it was gonna end up being my back up plan if things with the other governor appointed council didn't work out for me and luckily I asked about doing both of them. I certainly went into this application process with no intentions of making it onto the council because I had no idea what it was they were looking for in their applicants...but hey I gave it my entire one hundred twenty percent. I was completely nervous and unsure about the barriers that I would put in front of myself the entire time I participated on the first ever council meeting and not realizing that my life would never be the same again. I really did love seeing people on the call who have impacted me into helping me to become the self advocate, leader, mentor, friend and person that I can only imagine will give me reasons to strive a little harder each month or every few years. I have a very treacherous long three years for me to handle things that I have little to no knowledge about whatsoever and yet there are so many people who are gonna encourage me along the way to make sure I am not making any kind of mistakes or trying extra hard to be a perfectionist. I am hopeful after the epidemic gets all the way behind us, We can begin to meet up with each other in person and not have to keep our so called 6 feet distances from everybody anymore!!! 

Unfathomable Insecurities: 

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had six years ago of walking into this non profit organization with not knowing if I would even qualify for what they wanted in an applicant for the council. I didn't ever think it was gonna be an easy process realizing that I had to act a little more professional than any one knows me to be like sometimes. Spending endless hours on a computer screen is not my ideal with having fun which if you ask me is getting pretty old as fast as I am ready for it to be finished. 

Membership Certificate:

I'm an official member of this incredible council and quite frankly I know there is so much more for me to keep learning along the way. It is extremely difficult for me to not pretend like I deserved this honor- when my life is already turned upside down--but I am hopeful that things can improve over time. With trying to get to this point has been such an emotional rollercoaster for me, and I could not more than an absolute proud self advocate who has a very legitimate group of people who want me to do just nothing more than their best. 

Conclusion:

This experience is only just the beginning of what is to come down my life's path. I am not certain if there will ever be a chance for me to get my message across without being sure that I can handle truly anything. I am not necessarily a person who does not take what they do close to heart--but I am really nervous about whether or not I can be as professional as other people would suggest I need to be along my new leadership journey. There is so much more for me to keep learning and taking away from every single meeting that I participate on with people who are ten times more experienced I ever could be in my lifetime when it comes down to anything related back to disability issues in our state. #JustSaying :)