by AmandaLay

Created on: November 24, 2011

My Mom is my heroine and my best friend. To some people, having a child born three months premature with quadraspastic Cerebral Palsy might seem an insurmountable challenge. I am tremendously blessed that the Lord gave me such a wonderful woman for a Mom. Mom raised me to believe in myself.  She has always been my biggest fan and most vocal cheerleader.  My Mom has a deep faith in the Lord’s plan, both in her life and the lives of her children.  Mom is truly the most positive person I know.  By her example, I have learned that the challenges and conflicts that one may face in life can be handled much better with a positive attitude, faith in the Lord, prayer, and a sense of humor.   I am also very thankful that God has blessed me with the most wonderful stepfather in the world! My stepfather is a mild mannered, easygoing and gentle person who cares deeply about others, particularly those who are struggling or in need.  My stepfather both is a good friend to me and an extremely important person in my life.

I am tremendously thankful to have completed my college degree.  Despite the fact that I experienced some serious health problems, I completed my coursework in eight years, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Maryland.  Due to my having a learning disability in Math, I faced some skepticism from others who questioned my capability of completing my college degree successfully.  On the contrary, my earning a college degree is merely another example of my having determination, perseverance and faith to overcome adversity and setbacks to achieve goals and fulfill the first of many lifelong dreams.

Lastly, I am very thankful for the numerous ways that I use the abilities and talents with which the Lord has blessed me to serve the community.  As a volunteer at a rehabilitation hospital for eight years, I have comforted and encouraged patients on their road to recovery from severe and often life changing illnesses and injuries.  In my role as a volunteer tutor in adult literacy, I have been blessed with the opportunity to help adults in Washington DC learn to read.  Not only do I help to resolve the serious problem of adult illiteracy, it is also a wonderful blessing to help a population find their voice that has often been forced into silence by the challenges and difficulties that they have experienced in their lives.

  

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