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

Music

I am very passionate about my music. I use my music to express the way I feel about life. When I’m upset I write a sad song that makes you think about the struggle in life and the things that try to block us from our dreams. When I’m happy I write songs that make you get up and dance or just sing to brighten up your day. This has made my life better because it takes a lot off my back. Hopefully one day I can express my music with the world.
Dre

President Obama Speech on Healthcare Reform

Opinion Paper

Relinda Lisa Edmundson



I feel that President Obama has helped pull us out of our crises. He has helped to build a future for us. Our country is so rich, however, there are more than 3,000,000 people without health insurance. People have lost health insurance during crises which resulted in death because insurance companies would not cover their surgeries.

We are closer to this healthcare reform, than ever before, even though, many people have opposed it. We hope to see an effect in four years when the reform is passed.

Small businesses hopefully will be able to offer insurance at an affordable price. It should be against the law not to cover pre-existing conditions. There should not be a cap on insurance coverage either. Also, we should have a limit on out-of-pocket expenses, as well as quality affordable services.

If President Obama’s plan works out, this could be a start to a more caring country. We do have to take responsibility for our childern’s future. After all, they are our future.

The Obama Health Care Speech

I Think that the Obama health care speech was such an awesome, well spoken choice of words. He spoke on a lot of things that Americans need with their health care plan and with life in general. He spoke very clearly and used real life situations. For example, he spoke about the late great Ted Kennedy’s cancer stricken two children. He quoted that even the rich and wealthy gets sick and need a positive heath care plan. Money doesn’t prevent an illness, so therefore, it doesn’t matter who you are or what your assets look like, everyone needs a healthy health care plan to rely on. He also spoke on how most health insurance companies treat their people unfairly. He addressed how some of them turn down the sickest patients and raise the prices on the more healthy ones. It sounds like they might be bad people at heart but really and truly , they do this because of a lack of competition in the field of health care insurance companies make it easier for them to do so.. His health care plan hopes to change that as fast as possible.

The Obama Health care plan will bring more competition to the major health care insurance companies, so that all of these issues can be fixed and fixed right. I know that Obama will make all of the correct decisions and get our health care plan back on track like a locomotive running across the country.

Tate

“This may not mean nothing to yall, but understand nothing was done for me. So I don’t plan on stopping at all, I want this forever.” Drake

I started out with that verse from a song, because it shows passion. I am very passionate about changing my life around. My life has been one of many trials and tribulations. From a young child, I always felt unloved, unwanted, ugly and useless. Anything you can think of that has those same meanings, I felt that. Feeling like that ALL of your life, can take its toll on you. For a while, I just gave up. I felt like GOD, and anyone that was supposed to love and care for me, hated me. At one point, I let all the bad that had happened to me take over. I became the poster child for “Hot Girl”, like Lil’ Wayne and the group “Hot Boyz”, used to say. Only problem was, the20song wasn’t out yet! The way I lived my life back then was no way for any girl to live. Looking back at my life is what makes me passionate about changing my life. My experiences have been the main reason why I show my kids so much love. I never got it, so I do my best to let each one of them know how much momma loves them. I am passionate about never making my kids feel the way I did growing up. I am passionate about changing my life around, because I want to do better and more for my kids. They deserve better than what I have been able to provide so far. I have never abused or neglected them, but our lives have had its share of ups and downs. Up until recently, I never came to terms with all the pain I have endured in life. Now, I am passionate about accepting it and moving forward. I am passionate about life. You only get one. Don’t let it beat you down. Pray and grow.
Tiffany

Previous Hobbies and Cherished Past Times

I feel very, very passionately about my previously pursued hobbies and favorite past times. My hobbies were: collecting the 50 states’ quarters (and various stamps also) and scrapbooking. I still feel quite attached to the leftover results of my hobbies, even though I no longer continue to practice them. I once had thirty-two out of fifty collectible U.S. quarters. I still have many different varieties of stamps, most of them happening to be ones of the wild animals of Africa, Princess Diana, and of political figures and monuments from different countries. Back when I did scrapbooking, I made two scrapbooks for myself and a few for certain family members.
My two favorite things to do are: read books and watch movies. The three genres of books which I enjoy reading are: historical, fantasy, and sometimes even horror novels. For instance, the current book I am reading (for the pure enjoyment of its plot) is called New Moon, the second book in a series of four books called the Twilight book series. I am also currently reading the first two novels in the Sookie Stackhouse novel series, which are called Dead Until Dark and Living Dead in Dallas. I get a great amount of enjoyment out of watching almost any type of movie genre as well. Most of the time I watch either action-filled or comedic ones, along with the occasional fantasy or horror film (in order to spice things up a bit). My passion for these objects and things to do will never fade away since they all mean so very much to me in the way of happy memories and keeping me from getting bored on weekends.
-Sarah A.

I FEEL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MY FAITH

I feel very passionate about my faith to Jehovah God. He’s my strength. He’s the one that keeps me alive. I have done so many mistakes, and after all, He’s still blessing me. His blessings are countless. I hope He forgives me for all I have done wrong. He knows my heart, and knows I am always trying to do the best humanly possible. He knows I love him deeply, and because of Him, I have taken so many things. I have a lot to thank him for. As the Bible says: “Even if your father or mother leaves you, Jehovah will never leave you”. I deeply believe in this, He’s not only my spiritual father, but everything to me. He always gives me the strength to overcome any problem or barriers, life or myself put ahead of me. He loves me! I know that for sure. Even when someone tries to make me think Jehovah had left me, I know it’s not true. I am imperfect, that’s why I can’t really see what He sees. I put my whole life, my heart, and all my love to Jehovah. He’s a happy father, and wants me to be happy too. I know someday I’ll remember all these frustrating moments I’ve been going through lately, and that day I’ll thank Him for giving me wisdom, love, and the strength to overcome all those difficult moments. I thank Him every day for all His love, patience, blessings, and approval of all the decisions I have to make from now on. Jehovah is love that is why I know He wants me to love and be loved too.
With His blessings, I see myself happy and with a beautiful family. I see all my children happy as well, and very proud of all my accomplishments. A few years from now I see myself serving Jehovah with ALL my loved ones. Right now I feel much better. I feel stronger. Maybe I have cried so much, that I don’t want to, or feel like it anymore. I wish I was born a Jehovah Witness. I would have avoided so many mistakes and sufferings. I know Jehovah will make me stronger, healthier, and happier. He’s going to make me a much, much better me!
Ever since I became a Jehovah Witness, I became a better person. Watch carefully! I did not say perfect, I said better. Understanding why we suffer, gave me hope that someday no one’s going to cry, suffer, get sick or even die. But above all, there will always be true love. I believe, someday we are going to live in a perfect world, ruled by Jesus. I have faith that someday, ALL my loved ones will get to love Jehovah as much, or even more than I love Him. I know I can only be happy if I have His blessings, love and protection, for all these, I’ll put all my effort to accomplish it!

Jade Pinos

Hi my name is Gintana Mahatha.
I’m a hard working mother of 4. I was born June 30, 1975 in Charlotte, N.C. I’m married and have been with my husband for 16 years. But we have only been married 2 years. I did not graduate, and now I’m working on my GED at CPCC. My goals are to get my GED, get a good job, and one day I hope to own a home. My hobbies are reading, shopping and home design. I’m now in a program called Pathways to Employment. The program will help me get a GED and skills I need to move forward in life.

The Right Path

My name is Lavarus Alexander and I am attending CPCC.
I am in the Pathways to Employment program. There are different courses that you can register for. I chose the Office Information Specialist course to work on my typing skills, so that I can pursue a very well paying job. I come from a rough upbringing. My mother was on drugs real bad, and my father stayed in jail, so the drug dealers in my neighborhood became my parents and also my role models. I dropped out of school in the 8th grade to live the illegal life. Now that I am older and wiser, I want to better my future and focus on a career. I want to become a role model to my wife, step children, family and friends. Just like Martin Luther King had a dream, I have a dream. One day it will come true.

Life Is Like One Giant Puzzle

My name is Sharon Miller. I am attending Central Piedmont Community College; through the Pathways to Employment. I am also attaining my General Education Degree. Upon graduation, I plan to come back and study for an Associate's Degree in Business Administration. My first week here at Central Piedmon Community College has been a great experience. I have learned a lot about typing, writing blogs, and meeting new people. I missed out on a lot of my education, as well as, becoming aware of my goals. I have about 20 years of work experience under my belt, but there has always been a stumbling block in the way of me moving up the corporate ladder due to my lack of education. It is the missing piece of the puzzle that I do not have. I am hoping to change that now.

Dree vs. Roddrica

My given name is Roddrica but I’m known in the streets as Dree. I was raised in Southside Holmes with my mom as the only child but I have a step brother and sister. My father moved in with us two years after he got out of prison. I was six years old around this time and it seem like I was really getting to know him. We always went skating, fishing, to the movies, and bowling. Although we had good times we always shared our bad times. My mother was a straight hell raiser and she always acted like she loved to argue and fight all the time. When my parents split up after being together for 17 years, it felt like the best thing that had ever happened to me. Now I am in Pathways to Employment and everything is going great. I’m finally doing something I want to do.

MY LIFE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY

Hello, my name is Tiffany Cooper. Some people call me TIP for short. I am 36 yrs. old, and I have 3 children. My daughterwho is 15, my oldest son who is 14, and my baby boy who is 12. I have recently decided to go back to school to get my GED and a certificate as an Office Information Specialist. Just fancy words for 'secretary'. LOL... Why go back to school now, at 36? Well for two reasons actually: 1. My children: I'm always getting on them about the importance of school and how they should do their best. Now how do I look, fussing at them about school and I don't even have my GED? Let's get real! Children do as you do, not as you say, so I'm doing school. 2. I want a real job, yall. Not some BS that anybody can do, but one that I was trained for specifically, with benefits. Plus, I have all these skills and no one wants to even give me a chance because I don't have the educational background required to obtain a job. Let me tell you something, if you have the skills, but no education, then you can forget that 'Super Job'. Holla if you hear me! Well my life has had it's share of ups, downs, and all arounds. From being sexually abused from the age of 6 until the age of 13, momma's boyfriend's putting knives to my throat, and guns to my head. To being raped at the age of 19, getting pregnant with my daughter and making the decision to keep her at the age of 20. I have had good boyfriends and absolutely violent ones. Run ins with the police, social servicestaking my children, living from house to house, until finally, here I am. Where is that you ask? CPCC in school, my own home, kids in school doing good and I think I finally found, 'Mr. Right'. My life, like many was and is a little complicated, but that's life. I have finally realized I need to get the best out of life, instead of letting it get the better of me. I am still growing, still learning, and still praying.

Hello!.

My name is Sandra Lopez. I am twenty nine years old. I am from the Cactus land most people know with the name of Mexico.
I have living in Charlotte, NC since 2007. I have found a lot of opportunities here. I am happily married with a wonderful man. He is from Pittsburgh,PA. We have been married for two years and three months.
I am a pets lover. My favorite hobby is sewing. My passion is peace & love. One of my virtues is always seeing the good side in a typical situation. I like Beach living and love water sports. I like to be around people that appreciate waking up and just being happy to be a live & healthy.I also appreciate the opportunities that I have during my life, freedom is one. My freedom gave me the opportunity to travel, explore, and meet different cultures. I may not be too smart but my mind & life has had unforgettable experience's. I am good listener. I have no problems with patience. I am open to learn anything, at any time. Some day I would like to be the voice of all of the people, like me,that come to America with limited English. I want to show them the way to take advantage of the opportunities that this Country gives us.

The Magic Carpet- Tate

My name is Tate formerly known as “Tha Great One!” I gotta stone cold groove ya digg? And imma ride this wave ‘till the breeze knocks me off understand me!? So you better aboard the magic carpet or you going to miss out on the miss out on the spectacular fantasy to tour! I’m a cool kind cat to be a good looking brother. I don’t speak too much on the wrong subjects unless it’s profitable. You know, don’t speak unless spoken to. Tate loves the opposite sex! For all of ya’ll who kinda slow, that means Tate loves women! I really don’t have much sand in my time glass for people without common sense na’ mean? Like come on get the….heck around me with all that Joe blow nonsense you talking. Like now! Oh, my bad. I had got kinda angry there for a minute. I forgot you were there. Sorry. Tate gotta BEAUTIFUL solider name Jaiden Amari Marcus Tate. He is the best thing to happen to me since I fell in love with the natural green trees, which the earth produces every day! But yo, if I told you what his mother did recently, you’d be like “That’s F’d up!” But I don’t know you like that to be dishing all of my business to ya! He my heart tho. I have been through some things in my 22 years on this earth in this body, but like a true stone cold “groova” , Tate always bounce back like a round ball hitting the floor. Back in ’05 I had to rough this human up because he was disrespecting my little cousin. Unfortunaly HIS SISTER stabbed me twice. Once in my inside left elbow and once in my sexy belly. Now anit that some issh’? Your sister? GET REAL! Ha! You need to pull your….Oh dang, my fault. I did it again; almost forget you was there. But yeah, your boy has been threw it! My mama beat me with a metal baseball bat! I didn’t have a place to stay in 2007, until my cousin Joe Dime took me in. Thank God for that because it’s rough trying to find some where to lay from night to night. I dropped out of high school in 2005. Why might you ask? Because I couldn’t play basketball! I know that might seem crazy but, school was very hard for me and basketball was one thing that I wanted to do. I knew I had to keep my grades up to play ball and I did just that. I won a state title with my teammates and we were winning and winning big! I, of course, was the star of the team and I began to get noticed by colleges as a possible recruit for their basketball program. Unfortunally I was the leader of a school wide protest against my cruel and evil principle. Ronald Ballistic was a leader also. Long story short, he kicked me and him out of the school entirely. Just me & him! That made me ineligible to play out my senior year and when I heard that news, it just broke me into pieces! I got into an “F” it mind state. “What! I can’t play no ball!? No Scouts?! Well “F” it, I not going back! Basketball is what made me want to do my work and without it, I had no reason to come. Boy was I WRONG! But today is a different day! I got my boy in my life now, so I had to makes moves to better his life, so I went back to school to learn. I’m at CPCC taking up some female stuff but it’s cool because I’m around lot of women! Me and La’Varis. I want to graduate and get a job in the cool A.C. and hopefully there will be a lot of other females surrounding me! Oh, I came back to school because I wanted to learn more of what I didn’t already know. I got the desire to do so by looking at my lil’ solider! Prey for me and those who are around. Maybe on my next blog I will get into deeper issh’ with you because I know ya a little bit now. Lol. Holla at me Tho!

My Every Day Life- Sarah A.

Hi, my name is Sarah A., and I am currently taking the Career Pathways Office Information Systems program here at the downtown Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina (which is also known as the Central Campus of CPCC). To be more specific, the classes which I am taking (keyboarding in an office atmosphere, financial literacy in the workplace, and on job skills) are in the Central High building.
The Central Campus of CPCC isn’t lacking in food, either. There is a café in the library on this campus, along with a Bojangles right across the walkway next to the Terrell building, and also a hot dog stand in close proximity to the Giles building.
By the way, the Central Campus of CPCC is located on Elizabeth Avenue here in the city of local downtown Charlotte. The Central High and the Terrell buildings are located right across from each other. The Giles building is just a short walk from the Terrell building and at a diagonal proximity to it.
Apart from my student life at CPCC, I read lots of books and watch plenty of interesting movies, both of these interests of mine being factual and fictional in context and/or plot. I also do a lot of cooking for my Mom and Dad for our weekly (and sometimes biweekly, depending on if I cook our delicious yet healthy beef stew or not) dinner meals. I am now almost a complete expert at cooking beef stew and preparing the ingredients needed to make this recipe.
I love to listen to the music which I have on my IPod Nano and the music I don’t have on it online at www.youtube.com. (You can click on the link if you want to.) Just make sure you do so as a fun activity at home. That’s normally what I do.
Well, that’s pretty much it. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog post. Hope that you enjoyed reading it.
-Sarah A.

No Fears, No Barriers- Jade

As a child, I used to have high self esteem, always very secure about myself, and felt I could do anything I wanted. In school, I always tried to be the best I could be. People used to tell me how much they enjoyed being around me, because I was funny, sweet, caring, lovable-all the good comments anyone can imagine.
I was given a scholarship seventeen years ago in high school, to go to Baruch College for Business Administration. It was taken away because I was not a legal resident at that time. That frustrated me. I could not go to college, after all the effort I put in trying to be a good student. Suddenly, lots of things changed. I was a 24/7 mom, and never worked because I decided to dedicate all of my time to my children. I do not regret everything I did for them, because that was my job. But, I did forget about myself. I started suffering from low self esteem. I had a fear of everything. I felt I could not do anything right.
It’s taken me years to overcome these fears. Now I am 35 years old and feel I have a second chance. I am not taking it for granted. I want to feel that I can be useful and successful, not only as a mother, but as a human being. I want to leave Pathways with another point of view of life. Hey, I’m just starting! I know that with a positive attitude I will become a better me.

Introduction to Brandie

My name is Brandie. I am twenty-six years old. I have four children, ages 9, 5, 4, and 3. Three rambunctious boys and one beautiful little girl. I am currently a single parent that has been unemployed for the last year or so. I was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Fifteen months ago, I put my now ex-husband in prison for domestic violence. I thought my life could only move onward and upward. I was more motivated than ever to do what I needed to do in order to take care of my children. I went out everyday looking for a job. I was walking up to five miles a day. I was rejected every time. My bills started to pile up and I started to get discouraged.
One day, I was told by an old man in a bookstore that being ignorant and having no job experience in this economy was the funniest thing he had ever heard. He laughed in my face. You see, I never finished high school. I got pregnant at sixteen with my first child and dropped out. My mother left and moved to Michigan, and I was alone, sixteen, homeless, and with a three month old baby. I met my husband when I was 20. I was not allowed to work. (One of my husband’s controlling rules.) So here I was, no education and no job experience. The doors kept closing in my face and I didn’t know what to do.
I heard about the Pathways program through a neighbor went through the classes. I decided that’s what I would do. I would get my education and a great job. I wouldn’t need welfare, and I wouldn’t need to rely on my family so much. In Pathways, I will be done with my GED and my Office Information Systems Specialist certificate in four months. I will get a great job and I will have the life my children and I deserve.
My life is already so much more than it was. There is something to look forward to, to reach for. There isn’t anyone telling me how worthless I am. Only my fellow classmates who stand behind me as we all reach our goals together.

Introductions

Here's a little about us...