Going back to school…….

Going back to school…why now? Well, I think that it was just my time. I always knew that I would. It was just a matter of time, circumstance, and journey. It took a lot for me to get to the point of where I am today. My patience is stronger and my will is longer. My mind, my life, my children are all reasons I can say, now is the time.
For me this journey has been a marvelous thing. Some days are better than others, but that’s what I love. The good days help me realize that what I am doing is so much bigger than just me. Those are the times I revel in my life. I love myself (and that took a long time), my brain, and the courage it took for me to start this thing called education all over again. My good days make me feel uns toppable, and like the queen I was meant to be. I feel love, contentment, joy, and pure happiness along with pride. This is what I was supposed to do, finish school.
My bad days are few, but they do exist. Between battling to be treated like a human being by people who should know better, to battling within me about staying in school, it’s an everyday struggle. My bad days show me just how far I have actually come in my life. Whereas, before I would yell, scream, argue, fight or whatever it took to hurt the person or persons who I believed wronged me. Now I look to you with sympathy in my eyes because I now know what it looks like to make a fool of yourself for nothing. I feel sorry for those people who feel like the only way they can feel good is to put someone else down. That’s not a life I want to live or be a part of. Each day I grow and learn and learn and grow. That’s what the Pathways to Employment program is all about. That’s what it has taught me so far.
Why did I choose the Pathwa ys to Employment program? Well, because they give all the necessary tools you need to be successful. I want to find an Administrative Assistant position downtown. That’s what I want. Through this program, I believe that I am capable of doing that. In the Office Information Specialist program I am getting the necessary training and tools that can make this dream a reality. With the help of my teachers and friends in Pathways, I feel and believe that I can accomplish anything. They have helped me gain the confidence I need to make this a reality not a dream.
Any advice I would give would probably be:
1. Never let go of your dreams
2. Never be discouraged
3. Be Patient
4. Have Love
5. Understand other people & the fact that they have problems too
6. Realize you are only human:
(We all struggle at some point, it’s not the struggle, but how you come out.
Come out on top, get the best out of life instead of letting it get the best
out of you.)






Tiffany Cooper

Passion- Brandie Breedlove

One thing I am very passionate about is fighting to stop child abuse. Having four kids myself, I understand how a parent can feel overwhelmed and frustrated. I understand the urge to put your hands on your disruptive child.
I don’t, however, understand what stops an adult from taking their own time-outs, to calm down and breathe. Not one day goes by where I don’t feel like pulling my own hair out and screaming at the top of my lungs. As an adult, I back away. I remove myself from the situation and chill out before any time-outs, or restrictions are enforced.
I don’t care if you are down in the dumps, and have lost your home. I don’t care if you have ten kids and are a single parent. There is no excuse. I have been unemployed for a year now, and I am a single parent. I recently lost my house and am now living with my aunt and grandma in their small two bedroom apartment. There is nothing you can tell me about frustration.
I also have one son with ADHD and another with developmental disabilities. Frustrating? Yes. To the point where it is affecting my judgment? Sometimes. Never to the point where my children are in harms way. I know as a logical human being that my children did not ask to be born. They did not choose the life we have made for them. These are the reasons why I feel so passionately about stopping child abuse. Children are gifts and should not be treated like baggage.

A story about me…

My name is Relinda, and I live in Charlotte, NC I am forty-one years old. I am a divorced mother of three children, 22,19,6. I am a sister as well as a daughter. I have a ninth grade education. However, I have always faked my level of education. I have always held a job.
I have had many jobs in my life, such as, being a cashier in a grocery store, a server in a restaurant, as well as for Insurance Company. I was fortunate enough to also, own my own cleaning service for fifteen years. It was a success until 2007 when the economy changed.
After separating from my husband and making some bad choices. I have a mentor now and have received a scholarship to Pathways to Employment. I have to come to the reality that I need an education to better myself, as well as, set a good example for my children.

One in a Million- Sarah

I chose to come back to school for the career pathways college program in order to be able to get a job in the near future. This program has helped to broaden my career, financial and typing skills. It has helped in doing so by putting them to the test and improving them at the same time. It has also given me some new friends that are and always will mean a lot to me. These friends are my classmates as well. The mix of business and pleasure in this program is very well-balanced, just as it usually is in the world of work.

I have decided to start taking such a program at this moment in time because the opportunity has presented itself to me. Once I had the chance to get into this specific career pathways program, I took it. I have been able to grow in experience in the field of office information systems specialist. This growth of skill comes along with much thanks to those teachers and administrators who have been there to help. They have also made me more confident in myself through their encouraging words. My advice for those people getting ready to enter this or other pathways programs next year is to be prepared for a challenge no matter what program you take.

I Feel Very Very Passionately about Life

Life itself is my passion. I love every minute of my life. I have learned to try something new every day, and to follow stereotypes. I like the good, and the bad is just an obstacle i need to jump to get to the finish line. Living my life makes me feel joyful, because, the feeling of waking up and begin able to walk with my feet, see with eyes. talk with my mouth, makes me feel satisfied. My life is wonderful. Living my life under my rules has been the best experience I can ever ask for.

WHAT’S BEEN ON YOUR MIND THESE DAYS….

The only thing that has been on my mind is trying to better myself and find a well paying job that I can stay on for more than six months. I really need some type of income on a consistent basis. Times are very hard right now, and I’m just hoping and praying that my time to shine is right around the corner. I don’t sell drugs, nor do I rob people. I don’t engage in illegal activities so therefore my only means of me getting money is by working; that’s all I know. I can’t really say that anything else has been on my mind these days because I live a great life, but I’m just broke. I need to be on the winning team for at least once, know what I’m saying? I just need a job!

Obama speech was very intriguing for two reasons. He gave hope to those without insurance. He also gave options to those who do have insurance. He state that Government employees get affordable Insurance. And it’s now time to give every America the same opportunity that we’ve gives ourselves. Obama stated that if you have a pre-existing condition it will be against the law for Insurance Companies to deny you coverage. Such as if you have a job that provides Health care, and you like to keep the coverage you have you can, or you can adopt the plan that the Government is going to provide. He also stated that you will get a better Health Care plan where you do not have to pay a lot of money, to still get great coverage. Therefore, I do believe that the Health Care plan will be great for those who have coverage. And for those who don’t have coverage, because Obama mentioning a lot of key points that made sense.
Sharon