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EARLIER TODAY---I was honored with my YLC service award & could not be more than grateful to have gotten recognized for the dedication I put into making that committee successful. I may never not know what an incredible chapter of my life that was for me as time went by a little too fast and simply wanting to leave an imprint on everybody's heart. It's obviously hard for me to look towards a future-- without this committee being in it and yet I know my heart cannot wait for what happens next. I am so humbled to have gotten a chance to serve with the best people ever and learning from them on all those meetings we had every other month. 

This award is sitting on my bedroom shelf and I can look at it everyday reminding me of the legacy I was able to leave my friends behind with. I am grateful for the ways this committee helped me to learn about-- what it means to be a good leader and advocate in the disability community. It has been such an humbling experience for me to look back on what has motivated me to stick with doing what I love and yet I am not here to make sure that continues without stopping any time soon. 

LONG STORY SHORT----I ended up giving one of my colleagues the biggest hug ever and shedding all these tears down my face which if you ask me was most likely expected. I felt overwhelmed with so much gratitude in my heart for having done what I could to make the committee, what I know it will continue to be as the years go on. It's never easy for me to not get attached to something and have the hardest time in trying to let go from it to new stuff. I know there are so many more opportunities left in this world for me, to take chances on and not miss out on unless I make the decision to hold myself back?? I am grateful for USILC who went out of their way to give me this award and honor me for my years of service--which I'll admit feels like only a short length of time. This experience is one that I will cherish forever and keep very close to my heart throughout the rest of my self advocacy journey. 

Switched Over (Part Two)

 

Minus the blog post I shared on here yesterday---I am not sure if this will make any sense at all or help me feel better going forward in the disability community. I genuinely feel like a small fish in a big pond where I know there only more lessons to be learned along the way. It is obviously a different vibe than I would have anticipated going into this council and sometimes I visibly feel like everybody knows more about things than I do. 

Two of my colleagues have reassured me that I'm doing great & not trying to ruin what is at hand. I know my involvement seems a little insignificant at this moment and can only imagine all the new opportunities that lie ahead for me. There will be ups and downs along this journey which are not going to be unnoticed, as I continue learning what it means to be a legit board member who cares about their friends getting the best resources they will need to live in society.

Long Story Short--- I know this journey is not gonna be an easy one for me and I am comforted with recognizing that I'm still in good hands. I have so much more to bring onto these leadership roles and trying my hardest to not make the same mistakes I did in the past--which if you ask me have been able to teach me more than I deserve. I shed a lot of tears knowing that my presence was not where it had to be and I continued to let my emotions take over things. I'm not perfect in any sense of the word & yet I am hopeful things can settle down once I mirror what others are doing to make this experience that will be cherished for a lifetime. 

(End Of Post)

Switched Over

EARLIER TODAY---I participated in one of my governor entity meetings over Zoom and little did I have any idea of what a major adjustment it would turn up to be. I dearly loved being involved on the so called "Youth Side" of things and now that has been turned upside down--all simply because I had to grow up & move on. I legitimately feel like an outsider who has absolutely no idea what lies ahead of them and just simply hoping for the best in my future. I am fairly certain they are going to be other chances for me with council members to be educated on what needs to be done for the disability community--but right now it is extremely hard not being able to overcome. I genuinely want to be a good board member of USILC and do whatever it takes to leave an imprint on the hearts of everyone I get to work with--which if you ask me, will be a dream come true. 

I'm not necessarily prepared for whatever lies in my path and can only hope for the best to come heading down this road. I am not sure what unknown places or goals I will have set out for myself---but I am just genuinely hoping for a successful outcome in whatever comes down my path. I am not necessarily one of those people who handles changes like this very well and only perceives the worst case scenario in every situation life has ever given them. 

(More To Come)

Packed Show

LAST NIGHT----My twin sister and I along with our best friends went to attend the Big Time Rush concert on their 2022 Forever Tour at the USANA amphitheater. It was definitely one of the greatest experiences ever as we got to watch our favorite band perform live in concert and squeal with all the excitement we could possibly bring to the show. We absolutely loved every song that they performed which if you ask me was not anything of an understatement and we could not help but cheer all of the guys on from our seats!!! 

The entire amphitheater was packed to the rims with fans of every age and I'm glad we were not the only girlies who were excited to be there. We had such a blast singing along with the guys and dancing in our spots throughout the entire show!!! I especially loved hearing all of the classic songs that they did on the show during their nickelodeon days and remembering how much happiness they brought me when I just simply needed it was a dream come true!! 

I had never attended a Big Time Rush concert before and to admit it was an unforgettable experience isn't much of an understatement. I absolutely loved getting to see what an incredibly talented group of singers they are and man I was more than impressed with their performance!!! It was such a treat for me along w/ my friends to watch these guys do what they love so much and having not watched their show on a very popular television network (expect for one episode) I wanted to see what one of their concerts was gonna be like. 

We also ended up buying ourselves the coolest BTR shirts ever and wearing them the entire concert which if you must know was probably my favorite part. I loved showing my support for BTR & just simply being there to see their first tour in over a decade, unfold right in front of me. I will admit that James who is a singer in this group is probably my favorite and talking about how handsome he is---- that's a completely different story!!! 

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Late Night

To easily admit that I'm stoked for the chance to attend this concert is nothing short of an understatement--because I could not be more than thrilled to share this experience with my best friends. I have never seen these band perform in concert before and I cannot wait for us girlies to dance the night away, pretty much sing our hearts out and smile until it hurts!! There is obviously going to be more for me to share with you all once this unforgettable event gets closer, but you will need to wait up for it :) I am probably gonna end up fangirling once those guys hit the stage and make every single girl squeal from the top of their lungs---all around the USANA amphitheater while we enjoy the best night ever!!! 

(To Be Continued) 

Final Bang

YESTERDAY--- I participated in my final meeting with a committee that I have loved for such a long time and making a tearful exit was harder than I expected. It did take a little longer for me to assist my best friend with getting them onto Zoom and tried my hardest to do what I could--but to make this very long story short-- they ended up joining us and I could get onto things. I was very grateful that my vice chair stepped up their game to help me out with stuff and they did a beautiful job!! I was very impressed with how they carried themselves in a position that I have never had to ask them to do and yet I could not have been more proud of their effort to make sure things were on course. 

Awhile later into the meeting--- I was able to get all caught up on what they discussed as a group and then it was my turn to be in the spotlight. All of my friends were asked in an email to share heartfelt words with how I have made an impact on their lives as I served on the committee. It was incredibly heartwarming for me to hear how many lives I was able to leave an imprint on their hearts in some way or another. I also did have tears rolling down my face as I listened to each of my committee members share their thoughts and I wrote up a letter that I wanted to read out loud to them before things ended. It could not have been perfect and eloquently said as I read through all that I had come up with to share with everybody. 

Long Story Short---I am looking forward to what lies ahead for me in the future and whatever USILC has in store for me will never cease to help me grow into the disability leader I need to become. I already miss everyone so much and they left a much bigger impact on me, than I ever could have on them which if you ask me is not an understatement. I love you all so much and look forward to seeing what the future has in store for every single of them. 

Signing off for the last time as your YLC Chair, (2021-2022)

Courtney Edgington 

Mini Preview

Advisor Role??

Not sure if this will end up happening for me--But I would be incredibly grateful for a chance to learn more about being a leader in the disability community, but I have to remember they are probably better candidates for that role if you ask me!! I am excited for my involvement with the non profit organization that I dearly love so much and can only hope to make a good impression on my new colleagues. It was a very sentimental moment for me hearing the kind words of my friends, who made me tear up a lot more than I'm positively certain I was able to make them. It was heartwarming for me to learn how I made an impact on their lives made me realize that no matter where I am in this world, I will continue to do what ever it takes to keep making my voice heard. 

YLC Chair Plaque: 

I've not received this yet and look forward to seeing what it looks like in a couple of weeks!! It was really bittersweet knowing that my time with these extraordinary people had to come to an end, but I am grateful to have something I can look back on with a smile on my face. I look forward to putting it in my bedroom somewhere it can be kept safe and remind me of what I dedicated the past three and a half or four years of my life to. (More about this later!!!)

(To Be Continued)