Growing up, life was pretty rough for me as a teen. I was unfortunately split from my family in my freshman year of high school and lived in a group home. Times were rough and often times quite bleak. I typically felt alone and helpless. At my high school, there was a guidance counselor named John. He remembered me because he was my brother's counselor when he was in juvenile detention. I had a few interactions with him on those family day visits with my brother. When he initially reached out to me at school, I brushed him off, thinking no one in life cared. But I'm glad to say he was very persistent. He saw something in me that I never saw in myself. That I was a kid with potential. I just wasn't nurtured mentally and emotionally. I finally relented and opened up to him. He and his wife eventually went through all of the courses to be my mentor. They took me into their family. We celebrated holidays, birthdays, and weekends together. Throughout the years, he stuck by me and constantly urged me to get an education. Which is what I did....eventually. I'm glad that he remains a solid figure in my life and is a true inspiration to me. I am happy to say that after 25 years of being his mentee, he walked me down the aisle in 2019 when I got married. Some people in life are true gems to hold onto; John is definitely one of them.
If I could give my younger self any advice, it would be this: Never let anyone tell you what your value is as a person! We all have the potential to contribute greatness and beauty to the world. Everyone has their own journeys to travel and should not be diminished or underappreciated because of it. How boring would the world be if we were all the same? Keep dreaming and thriving!
