Mini Stories

BYUWBB Team:

Wishing you ladies all the best as you enter into the NCAA basketball tournament this weekend!! I know you girls are going to put it all out there on the court as you prepare for what I hope will be an amazingly unforgettable experience!! I'd love for you all to know that regardless of whatever the end outcome is, keep in mind that each one of you is incredible and that you gave it a hundred and twenty percent. I look forward to cheering you ladies on from my home and hoping it all turns out well :) I cannot wait to watch you all bring home the title that is on the line this year and can only hope that even if you do not win--all of you are still winners!!! #GoLadyCougars #iBleedBlue 

Volunteering Presentation (Saturday Afternoon)

Once again I have an opportunity this weekend to present on a topic that means a lot to me and one of my colleagues on the speakers network. I am excited for the chance to share about my experiences with being a volunteer in my community and giving back to others without anything in return. I only hope that both of us will make a good impression on everybody who will be participating with us and touch their hearts in some way or another. 

Ninja Planning Committee (Unofficial News)

It's certainly going to be sentimental for me as I participate on this committee again and give it a hundred and fifty percent. I am definitely not prepared for the unexpected tears of gratitude and love that will fall down my cheeks as I make sure this conference ends up successful. I am grateful for this conference and everything it has done for me the past ten years, which if you ask me is nothing close to an understatement. (Stay tuned for more updates!!!)

Ninja Update

Official Presentation Date (June 21, 2022)

I'm so excited that me and one of my colleagues selected a date for us to present on self determination, for the tenth annual NINJA youth leadership conference!!! This holds such a special place in my heart, simply because it is where my self advocacy journey began and if I end up coming off a little sentimental prior to the session--it is just because I love this disability conference so much. It will be such a rewarding experience for me to teach once again and in hopes this presentation gets well received-- from everybody who will be participating with us. I am not certain when I will ever get a chance to teach at something like this again in the distant future, but I will never pass up an opportunity if there ever will be another one!!! 

Minus all of the heartache that I have in regards to not being a mentor, I can wholeheartedly admit there is no end in sight for me to stop advocating for individuals with disabilities and when I am ready for to live on my own-- I will certainly write up about it. I am not particularly sure if that will be happening any time soon and yet I still have a lot of work to do before that chapter of my life begins. I am grateful for the incredible opportunities this conference provided me over the years and look forward to more chances with improving my leadership skills, among everything else in between.

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Untitled Post

YLC Update (USILC Report)

As being chair of the best disability committee ever, I have an opportunity to give a little brief update to USILC about our previous ninja alumni call and what kind of activity we planned, etc. I did not even hesitate in replying back right away and wanting to give myself a chance in hopes to make a good impression on all the important people who will be listening. Please stay tuned for an update on this later!!! :)

Serving in this leadership position has changed my life so much and can hardly believe things will end before too much longer. It has been such an amazing experience for me to learn and grow into the self advocate, disability leader, mentor and friend that I need to be in this world. I am truly grateful for this opportunity of getting to stretch myself in ways I never imagined possible and continuing to learn as I tread along this experience called life. I have loved getting to see myself realize how important it is to maintain boundaries with people in this field of independent living and trying my hardest to perform-- everything to the best of my ability from here on out.

Self Advocacy Conference (June 2022)

This event will be taken place online and in person within a few months :) I am grateful for the privilege that I have to continue showcasing my leadership skills to others in the disability community. I have really enjoyed getting to be a part of this planning process and once this conference all unfolds right in front of me, it will definitely come into full circle. I am grateful for the incredible people who make this experience such an amazing one and I can only hope to continue being a part of more events in the distant future. Please stay tuned for more updates to come at a later time!! 

(To Be Continued)

Special Tribute

My good friend Josh would have celebrated his twenty ninth birthday today and instead I am here writing up a blog post about him. He was truly one of the best people you would have ever met and he always just kept a smile on his face, no matter the circumstances that he was faced up against. I'm grateful for his true legacy of making the best in every situation and not worrying about what others think--which if you must know is a lesson that I could learn for myself. I hope that you are having the most unforgettable heavenly birthday ever with everyone on the other side!!! :)

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to know Josh and his contagious positive attitude, made you feel a little better than when you walked into a room. He made me feel good about myself as an advocate, mentor, friend and disability leader who wants nothing more than to see our world be a more inclusive and wonderful place. He never failed to make you laugh or smile whenever you needed it the most and it never ceased to amaze me with how he wanted to live everyday with a chance to keep going. 

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