New Stories

Legislative Training 2023 (Final Decision)

After much contemplation & debate in my head--- I decided to give this event another chance in the hopes that my anxiety will not be easily triggered as it was before. I had a lot of anxiety inside my heart during a miniature session that I remember being left with emotional frustrations about. I ended up reaching out to one of my colleagues and simply asking them to pass me on the unseen agenda once the event is closer. I am obviously nervous with how things will leave me once I step out of that room & walk away with a big smile on my face. I am not certain if that will end up being the case or not this next year, but I will be very grateful to not have anymore frustrations on my plate. 

Missing Out (Mini Version)

I have to end up missing a very important visit with my colleagues this next week--due to the fact I will be waiting outside for my bus to show up and take me back home. I am disappointed with not getting to visit or see them once again which is gonna feel like an eternity. I was really looking forward to this time with them and now I will never get to share more of my input on stuff. Sometimes I need to make sacrifices in my leadership roles that I may not want to do in those moments and yet I have no choice but to miss it all completely so I can get back to volunteering at the elementary school. 

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Mini Speech

 Transition Service Presentation (UVU)

I am excited about this upcoming presentation and getting a chance to educate the disability community here in Utah on a very important topic that plays a crucial role in the life of someone with disabilities to know what is out there for them. I may have experienced this a long time ago and yet I have an opportunity to stretch my leadership skills a little more through this presentation. It has been such a long time from the last time I did a presentation on something like this for anyone before and look forward to what these students have to ask or share with me after my experience with transition is finished. I am looking forward to inspiring my neighbor as well as their students to know my experience in transitioning from high school into daily life. I am grateful for any chance I can get to present on something that needs to be addressed and brought to light. I am really looking forward to what these students want to know not only from me as the guest speaker, but learning how to find those resources they can look into for accomplishing their goals. I may not know nearly as much as I would like to about this kind of stuff and trying to do my best in spreading awareness in regards to what individuals with disabilities can do instead of what they cannot. I have created my own little Power-Point presentation with photos in it from my past experiences with transition and giving the students a chance, to not only listen to what I have to share---but visually see what I have achieved. There's another week before this takes place and cannot wait for a chance to spread my message of hope with an incredible group of self advocates. 

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Untitled Post

After receiving some much needed advice--I have decided to give myself a chance and try this one more time. I will be attending yet another council training that should turn out a lot better than the one I attended four years ago. It was not exactly the kind of outcome I had wanted to see myself go through and yet there was not much of anything I could do to make things easier. I ended up with my feelings severely  hurt in a way that no one should ever have to face in their lifetime and somehow after standing up for myself in that situation-- I was somehow able to heal from that period. I definitely would not reconsider attending an event that I know will help me learn how to be a legitimate board member of a council that holds such a special place in my heart. Obviously, I may not even talk much or give any input on stuff that we discuss as a group, but I am confident it will feel a lot less traumatic than before. I am hopeful my anxious self will be in a good place which if ya must know still needs some work leading up to this and I can focus on what is at hand. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve on USILC and make improvements along the way which if you ask me is a lot harder than I would have anticipated. It has been an emotional rollercoaster for me to not feel out of place or be dealing with anxiety on a consistent basis whenever I join in on a virtual meeting or event. I am just simply doing whatever it takes to push through my challenges and not look silly whenever I share my legit input on stuff that needs to be addressed.

I am determined in trying to make this experience one that I can look back on with a smile and not have teardrops rolling down my face. I have definitely tried my hardest to maintain boundaries with people I closely associate with on a regular basis and not wish things could be easier. I still have a treacherous & long road of me to walk down but I can only hope for the best. I am fairly certain there will not be much for me to worry about once I arrive and get settled down into things. 

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