dr. McClarty I have to make a confession here I think that I kind of got a little
here I think that I kind of got a little
here I think that I kind of got a little confused and what the purpose of this
confused and what the purpose of this
confused and what the purpose of this talk was about and I’ve come dressed as
talk was about and I’ve come dressed as
talk was about and I’ve come dressed as a homebuilder because I thought I was
a homebuilder because I thought I was
a homebuilder because I thought I was supposed to talk about different
supposed to talk about different
supposed to talk about different professions that maybe the audience
professions that maybe the audience
professions that maybe the audience might be interested in but I as I look
might be interested in but I as I look
might be interested in but I as I look out over the crowd I believe that there
out over the crowd I believe that there
out over the crowd I believe that there aren’t very many people here that want
aren’t very many people here that want
aren’t very many people here that want to build homes but they might want to
to build homes but they might want to
to build homes but they might want to offer hope or build hope for others
offer hope or build hope for others
offer hope or build hope for others so I’ll do my best to make the
so I’ll do my best to make the
so I’ll do my best to make the correction and get past this little
correction and get past this little
correction and get past this little rocky start that we’ve started here
rocky start that we’ve started here
rocky start that we’ve started here welcome everyone I want to talk to you
welcome everyone I want to talk to you
welcome everyone I want to talk to you about the two building blocks that I’ve
about the two building blocks that I’ve
about the two building blocks that I’ve discovered are part of everyone’s future
discovered are part of everyone’s future
discovered are part of everyone’s future can anyone tell me what letter is
can anyone tell me what letter is
can anyone tell me what letter is missing in this word I have you ever
missing in this word I have you ever
missing in this word I have you ever felt like the choices that you make are
felt like the choices that you make are
felt like the choices that you make are insignificant and don’t really matter
insignificant and don’t really matter
insignificant and don’t really matter that they really don’t impact your life
that they really don’t impact your life
that they really don’t impact your life or the community that you live in I know
or the community that you live in I know
or the community that you live in I know I have felt that way but I’m here to
I have felt that way but I’m here to
I have felt that way but I’m here to tell you tonight I believe that one of
tell you tonight I believe that one of
tell you tonight I believe that one of the key components to every one of our
the key components to every one of our
the key components to every one of our futures is that our choices do matter
futures is that our choices do matter
futures is that our choices do matter our choices do impact lives of ourselves
our choices do impact lives of ourselves
our choices do impact lives of ourselves our own life and others around us let’s
our own life and others around us let’s
our own life and others around us let’s look at the second building block of our
look at the second building block of our
look at the second building block of our futures hope how many of you have ever
futures hope how many of you have ever
futures hope how many of you have ever run a 5k or half marathon raise your
run a 5k or half marathon raise your
run a 5k or half marathon raise your hand well a few of you have fortunately
hand well a few of you have fortunately
hand well a few of you have fortunately or unfortunately depending on your
or unfortunately depending on your
or unfortunately depending on your person
person
person effective I have also if you’ve run a 5k
effective I have also if you’ve run a 5k
effective I have also if you’ve run a 5k or a marathon those people that are on
or a marathon those people that are on
or a marathon those people that are on the sidelines as you’re headed up that
the sidelines as you’re headed up that
the sidelines as you’re headed up that mountain that seems insurmountable or
mountain that seems insurmountable or
mountain that seems insurmountable or those people that are at the finish line
those people that are at the finish line
those people that are at the finish line cheering you on those are hope builders
cheering you on those are hope builders
cheering you on those are hope builders they see the potential in a few seconds
they see the potential in a few seconds
they see the potential in a few seconds they can impact our lives more than
they can impact our lives more than
they can impact our lives more than hours or days of training as you can see
hours or days of training as you can see
hours or days of training as you can see I’ve brought a tool box here and I’m
I’ve brought a tool box here and I’m
I’ve brought a tool box here and I’m kind of dressed appropriately for that
kind of dressed appropriately for that
kind of dressed appropriately for that and I I would encourage you to think
and I I would encourage you to think
and I I would encourage you to think about what your strengths are we have
about what your strengths are we have
about what your strengths are we have I’ve asked for some people to join me on
I’ve asked for some people to join me on
I’ve asked for some people to join me on stage and they should be coming out any
stage and they should be coming out any
stage and they should be coming out any time now let’s welcome our volunteers
time now let’s welcome our volunteers
time now let’s welcome our volunteers please
I have offered them some baggage out of
I have offered them some baggage out of my toolbox and the lady on the end would
my toolbox and the lady on the end would
my toolbox and the lady on the end would you please tell us what you believe the
you please tell us what you believe the
you please tell us what you believe the profession is that I’ve assigned to you
profession is that I’ve assigned to you
profession is that I’ve assigned to you a judge is that something you would have
a judge is that something you would have
a judge is that something you would have ever dreamed of being or having a career
ever dreamed of being or having a career
ever dreamed of being or having a career as are you interested in studying law no
as are you interested in studying law no
as are you interested in studying law no but sometimes life hands us baggage
but sometimes life hands us baggage
but sometimes life hands us baggage correct
correct
correct sometimes we’re handed something that we
sometimes we’re handed something that we
sometimes we’re handed something that we don’t necessarily want to own or do
don’t necessarily want to own or do
don’t necessarily want to own or do gentleman in the white coat what is your
gentleman in the white coat what is your
gentleman in the white coat what is your profession cardio doctor okay yes you
profession cardio doctor okay yes you
profession cardio doctor okay yes you are a heart doctor is that something you
are a heart doctor is that something you
are a heart doctor is that something you would want to do in life no no okay well
would want to do in life no no okay well
would want to do in life no no okay well but see I’m getting to assign to you
but see I’m getting to assign to you
but see I’m getting to assign to you what I think you should do and I believe
what I think you should do and I believe
what I think you should do and I believe your profession should be a heart doctor
your profession should be a heart doctor
your profession should be a heart doctor gentlemen what what is your profession
gentlemen what what is your profession
gentlemen what what is your profession did you choose that or was it handed to
did you choose that or was it handed to
did you choose that or was it handed to you by your actions well sometimes we
you by your actions well sometimes we
you by your actions well sometimes we choose things that we wouldn’t
choose things that we wouldn’t
choose things that we wouldn’t necessarily dream of being but because
necessarily dream of being but because
necessarily dream of being but because of our choices we have to take on that
of our choices we have to take on that
of our choices we have to take on that responsibility young lady what is your
responsibility young lady what is your
responsibility young lady what is your profession
how on earth did you guess that so
how on earth did you guess that so appropriately yes is that something you
appropriately yes is that something you
appropriately yes is that something you really would have chosen well of course
really would have chosen well of course
really would have chosen well of course not
not
not let’s give a round of applause for our
let’s give a round of applause for our
let’s give a round of applause for our volunteers thank you for for
volunteers thank you for for
volunteers thank you for for participating the purpose of that a
participating the purpose of that a
participating the purpose of that a little bit of experiment is to let us
little bit of experiment is to let us
little bit of experiment is to let us all think about what do we take
all think about what do we take
all think about what do we take ownership of that someone else is handed
ownership of that someone else is handed
ownership of that someone else is handed to us that maybe society expects of us
to us that maybe society expects of us
to us that maybe society expects of us are we owning or taking baggage that’s
are we owning or taking baggage that’s
are we owning or taking baggage that’s not ours if there’s nothing that you
not ours if there’s nothing that you
not ours if there’s nothing that you remember from this talk after you leave
remember from this talk after you leave
remember from this talk after you leave here and you reflect on what you’ve
here and you reflect on what you’ve
here and you reflect on what you’ve heard I want you to remember this you
heard I want you to remember this you
heard I want you to remember this you are responsible for the choices that you
are responsible for the choices that you
are responsible for the choices that you make don’t pick up the baggage of the
make don’t pick up the baggage of the
make don’t pick up the baggage of the harm the hurt some of those things that
harm the hurt some of those things that
harm the hurt some of those things that we try to own or other people want us to
we try to own or other people want us to
we try to own or other people want us to own don’t carry that remember your
own don’t carry that remember your
own don’t carry that remember your responsibility is to own the choices you
responsibility is to own the choices you
responsibility is to own the choices you make so you can choose to be the
make so you can choose to be the
make so you can choose to be the architect of your future I would
architect of your future I would
architect of your future I would encourage you to dream big if you have
encourage you to dream big if you have
encourage you to dream big if you have your phone with you I want you to pull
your phone with you I want you to pull
your phone with you I want you to pull it out and I want you to find what you
it out and I want you to find what you
it out and I want you to find what you where you put your notes how you remind
where you put your notes how you remind
where you put your notes how you remind yourself of things I want you to think
yourself of things I want you to think
yourself of things I want you to think about what you’ve always wanted to do
about what you’ve always wanted to do
about what you’ve always wanted to do where you’ve always wanted to go or who
where you’ve always wanted to go or who
where you’ve always wanted to go or who you’ve always wanted to be over the
you’ve always wanted to be over the
you’ve always wanted to be over the course of this talk as things come to
course of this talk as things come to
course of this talk as things come to your mind put that in there
your mind put that in there
your mind put that in there when you leave here build on that are
when you leave here build on that are
when you leave here build on that are you doing what you’ve dreamed of doing
you doing what you’ve dreamed of doing
you doing what you’ve dreamed of doing are you living the life that you’ve
are you living the life that you’ve
are you living the life that you’ve always wanted – are you going the places
always wanted – are you going the places
always wanted – are you going the places that you’ve always dreamed of going
that you’ve always dreamed of going
that you’ve always dreamed of going think back to when you were a child what
think back to when you were a child what
think back to when you were a child what did you dream of doing being places you
did you dream of doing being places you
did you dream of doing being places you wanted to go this is your life the days
wanted to go this is your life the days
wanted to go this is your life the days the minutes they’re limited for each of
the minutes they’re limited for each of
the minutes they’re limited for each of us are you dreaming
us are you dreaming
us are you dreaming are you living are you being as I look
are you living are you being as I look
are you living are you being as I look out over the crowd I I see many interior
out over the crowd I I see many interior
out over the crowd I I see many interior designers you see the potential in
designers you see the potential in
designers you see the potential in people you see their beauty what they
people you see their beauty what they
people you see their beauty what they were created to be and you even offer
were created to be and you even offer
were created to be and you even offer them hope thank you thank you the world
them hope thank you thank you the world
them hope thank you thank you the world is a better place because of that I’ve
is a better place because of that I’ve
is a better place because of that I’ve brought a storybook with me how many of
brought a storybook with me how many of
brought a storybook with me how many of you have had a story read to you
you have had a story read to you
you have had a story read to you recently oh you know well a few out
recently oh you know well a few out
recently oh you know well a few out there but most of you’ve been missing
there but most of you’ve been missing
there but most of you’ve been missing out listen up the dark-haired little
out listen up the dark-haired little
out listen up the dark-haired little girl with the hazel colored eyes grew up
girl with the hazel colored eyes grew up
girl with the hazel colored eyes grew up in the big city of Indianapolis she was
in the big city of Indianapolis she was
in the big city of Indianapolis she was born the youngest of six children when
born the youngest of six children when
born the youngest of six children when she was six weeks old she almost died
she was six weeks old she almost died
she was six weeks old she almost died from whooping cough the doctor called
from whooping cough the doctor called
from whooping cough the doctor called her a miracle baby her mother and father
her a miracle baby her mother and father
her a miracle baby her mother and father were divorced when she was very young
were divorced when she was very young
were divorced when she was very young her daddy was originally from New York
her daddy was originally from New York
her daddy was originally from New York and he was a skilled carpenter and
and he was a skilled carpenter and
and he was a skilled carpenter and gardener but he struggled with
gardener but he struggled with
gardener but he struggled with alcoholism to numb the pain from his
alcoholism to numb the pain from his
alcoholism to numb the pain from his childhood
childhood
childhood the little girl remembered visiting her
the little girl remembered visiting her
the little girl remembered visiting her daddy and his Salvation Army shelter
daddy and his Salvation Army shelter
daddy and his Salvation Army shelter where he repaired donated furniture to
where he repaired donated furniture to
where he repaired donated furniture to resell in the thrift store
resell in the thrift store
resell in the thrift store her mother completed school through the
her mother completed school through the
her mother completed school through the 8th grade
8th grade
8th grade and struggled to keep all six of the
and struggled to keep all six of the
and struggled to keep all six of the children clothed and fed the little girl
children clothed and fed the little girl
children clothed and fed the little girl can remember her mom attending classes
can remember her mom attending classes
can remember her mom attending classes at Goodwill to get her GED although
at Goodwill to get her GED although
at Goodwill to get her GED although unable to accomplish this goal her mom
unable to accomplish this goal her mom
unable to accomplish this goal her mom would do janitorial work and later was
would do janitorial work and later was
would do janitorial work and later was employed for several years at a local
employed for several years at a local
employed for several years at a local fast-food restaurant they lived in a
fast-food restaurant they lived in a
fast-food restaurant they lived in a three-bedroom house the little girl can
three-bedroom house the little girl can
three-bedroom house the little girl can remember the embarrassment of receiving
remember the embarrassment of receiving
remember the embarrassment of receiving government assistance for food and
government assistance for food and
government assistance for food and someone always having to help them out
someone always having to help them out
someone always having to help them out she also remembers one year going to
she also remembers one year going to
she also remembers one year going to school with holes in her shoes and just
school with holes in her shoes and just
school with holes in her shoes and just seeming different than everyone else the
seeming different than everyone else the
seeming different than everyone else the family did not own a vehicle for several
family did not own a vehicle for several
family did not own a vehicle for several years they would walk take public
years they would walk take public
years they would walk take public transportation or someone would take
transportation or someone would take
transportation or someone would take them where they needed to go back before
them where they needed to go back before
them where they needed to go back before the little girl was born ladies from a
the little girl was born ladies from a
the little girl was born ladies from a local religious organization befriended
local religious organization befriended
local religious organization befriended her mother this gave her mom a sense of
her mother this gave her mom a sense of
her mother this gave her mom a sense of belonging as she chose to start her
belonging as she chose to start her
belonging as she chose to start her religious journey although
religious journey although
religious journey although well-intentioned her mother was very
well-intentioned her mother was very
well-intentioned her mother was very easily manipulated and misguided as time
easily manipulated and misguided as time
easily manipulated and misguided as time passed this group controlled more and
passed this group controlled more and
passed this group controlled more and more of their daily lives
more of their daily lives
more of their daily lives rules determined their clothing and
rules determined their clothing and
rules determined their clothing and hairstyles and whether or not they were
hairstyles and whether or not they were
hairstyles and whether or not they were permitted to a watch or even own a
permitted to a watch or even own a
permitted to a watch or even own a television
television
television she was spanked for watching TV after
she was spanked for watching TV after
she was spanked for watching TV after visiting her father’s house jewelry and
visiting her father’s house jewelry and
visiting her father’s house jewelry and makeup were definitely not permitted the
makeup were definitely not permitted the
makeup were definitely not permitted the little girl remembered her mom
little girl remembered her mom
little girl remembered her mom destroying any picture that she had of
destroying any picture that she had of
destroying any picture that she had of herself if she was wearing jewelry or
herself if she was wearing jewelry or
herself if she was wearing jewelry or makeup in it she was a beautiful lady
makeup in it she was a beautiful lady
makeup in it she was a beautiful lady and now all that the family had is a
and now all that the family had is a
and now all that the family had is a memory of those pictures the list of
memory of those pictures the list of
memory of those pictures the list of do’s and don’ts was quite lengthy and it
do’s and don’ts was quite lengthy and it
do’s and don’ts was quite lengthy and it changed at the whim of new leadership
changed at the whim of new leadership
changed at the whim of new leadership this legalistic environment required so
this legalistic environment required so
this legalistic environment required so much exterior perfection
much exterior perfection
much exterior perfection many of the men acted out in sexual
many of the men acted out in sexual
many of the men acted out in sexual deviance seized against the children at
deviance seized against the children at
deviance seized against the children at the age of seven a brother-in-law who is
the age of seven a brother-in-law who is
the age of seven a brother-in-law who is also a church member did inappropriate
also a church member did inappropriate
also a church member did inappropriate things to the little girl as an
things to the little girl as an
things to the little girl as an adolescent approaching her teen years
adolescent approaching her teen years
adolescent approaching her teen years another brother-in-law asked the mom if
another brother-in-law asked the mom if
another brother-in-law asked the mom if the little girl could come and stay
the little girl could come and stay
the little girl could come and stay during the week to help his three
during the week to help his three
during the week to help his three children get ready for school see his
children get ready for school see his
children get ready for school see his wife the little girl’s sister was a lady
wife the little girl’s sister was a lady
wife the little girl’s sister was a lady of the night he would buy the girls the
of the night he would buy the girls the
of the night he would buy the girls the girl clothes candy perfume things she
girl clothes candy perfume things she
girl clothes candy perfume things she didn’t get at home she remembers her
didn’t get at home she remembers her
didn’t get at home she remembers her sister coming in one evening and
sister coming in one evening and
sister coming in one evening and throwing money in her face saying here
throwing money in her face saying here
throwing money in her face saying here you take this money I’ve been out
you take this money I’ve been out
you take this money I’ve been out working to make it so that you can have
working to make it so that you can have
working to make it so that you can have it she found out later that the man was
it she found out later that the man was
it she found out later that the man was encouraging his wife to make money this
encouraging his wife to make money this
encouraging his wife to make money this way he even took the girl to his parents
way he even took the girl to his parents
way he even took the girl to his parents house who knew who she was how old she
house who knew who she was how old she
house who knew who she was how old she was and they protected him and didn’t
was and they protected him and didn’t
was and they protected him and didn’t report him to law enforcement one day
report him to law enforcement one day
report him to law enforcement one day her mother found the letters in her
her mother found the letters in her
her mother found the letters in her bedroom with inappropriate messages from
bedroom with inappropriate messages from
bedroom with inappropriate messages from the man – the girl the mother became
the man – the girl the mother became
the man – the girl the mother became very upset and told the girl she could
very upset and told the girl she could
very upset and told the girl she could have done things differently to not
have done things differently to not
have done things differently to not tempt the man she had the girl he’ll
tempt the man she had the girl he’ll
tempt the man she had the girl he’ll pick a switch and spanked her for her
pick a switch and spanked her for her
pick a switch and spanked her for her actions within days he made plans to
actions within days he made plans to
actions within days he made plans to take her from her home in the middle of
take her from her home in the middle of
take her from her home in the middle of the night through a bedroom window he
the night through a bedroom window he
the night through a bedroom window he took her across several state lines to
took her across several state lines to
took her across several state lines to Florida Missouri in Texas all the while
Florida Missouri in Texas all the while
Florida Missouri in Texas all the while avoiding law enforcement except for the
avoiding law enforcement except for the
avoiding law enforcement except for the brother-in-law who was an officer who
brother-in-law who was an officer who
brother-in-law who was an officer who took them in and protected him again at
took them in and protected him again at
took them in and protected him again at this time she was 15 years old family
this time she was 15 years old family
this time she was 15 years old family religious organization members and
religious organization members and
religious organization members and educators who saw him drop her off at
educators who saw him drop her off at
educators who saw him drop her off at school daily – nothing
school daily – nothing
school daily – nothing to stop what was going on she was away
to stop what was going on she was away
to stop what was going on she was away from her home for most of her freshman
from her home for most of her freshman
from her home for most of her freshman year of high school the mother burned
year of high school the mother burned
year of high school the mother burned the girls clothes and gave away her
the girls clothes and gave away her
the girls clothes and gave away her personal belongings while she was away
personal belongings while she was away
personal belongings while she was away her parents also remarried during this
her parents also remarried during this
her parents also remarried during this time
time
time this caused the teen to question if she
this caused the teen to question if she
this caused the teen to question if she was the reason they weren’t together all
was the reason they weren’t together all
was the reason they weren’t together all of those previous years well away from
of those previous years well away from
of those previous years well away from home she was introduced to things a
home she was introduced to things a
home she was introduced to things a child should never be exposed to alcohol
child should never be exposed to alcohol
child should never be exposed to alcohol drugs pornography in Missouri she
drugs pornography in Missouri she
drugs pornography in Missouri she applied for a job at a hotel after
applied for a job at a hotel after
applied for a job at a hotel after giving her social security number and
giving her social security number and
giving her social security number and telling the manager that she was 18 she
telling the manager that she was 18 she
telling the manager that she was 18 she was hired because they did not check her
was hired because they did not check her
was hired because they did not check her records she began to discover her
records she began to discover her
records she began to discover her independence and that the child predator
independence and that the child predator
independence and that the child predator couldn’t control her she decided to move
couldn’t control her she decided to move
couldn’t control her she decided to move in with friends strangers really he
in with friends strangers really he
in with friends strangers really he became very mad and punched a
became very mad and punched a
became very mad and punched a refrigerator breaking his hand he went
refrigerator breaking his hand he went
refrigerator breaking his hand he went to where she was staying and convinced
to where she was staying and convinced
to where she was staying and convinced her to get to his place to sort through
her to get to his place to sort through
her to get to his place to sort through her belongings everything she owned he
her belongings everything she owned he
her belongings everything she owned he had purchased for her the teenager
had purchased for her the teenager
had purchased for her the teenager became very angry when she realized that
became very angry when she realized that
became very angry when she realized that he had passed his exit and she was he
he had passed his exit and she was he
he had passed his exit and she was he was taking her home to her mom and dad
was taking her home to her mom and dad
was taking her home to her mom and dad she arrived home two weeks before her
she arrived home two weeks before her
she arrived home two weeks before her 16th birthday unfortunately the child
16th birthday unfortunately the child
16th birthday unfortunately the child predator went on to hurt other children
predator went on to hurt other children
predator went on to hurt other children and that’s a story for another day
and that’s a story for another day
and that’s a story for another day uncertain of how she was going to handle
uncertain of how she was going to handle
uncertain of how she was going to handle her teenager her mom sent her to a
her teenager her mom sent her to a
her teenager her mom sent her to a boarding school in Cincinnati due to
boarding school in Cincinnati due to
boarding school in Cincinnati due to missing most of her freshman year of
missing most of her freshman year of
missing most of her freshman year of high school she was tested and placed
high school she was tested and placed
high school she was tested and placed directly into her sophomore year she
directly into her sophomore year she
directly into her sophomore year she just had to double up on a few classes
just had to double up on a few classes
just had to double up on a few classes she would work from 7:00 a.m. to noon at
she would work from 7:00 a.m. to noon at
she would work from 7:00 a.m. to noon at the school’s reception area as their
the school’s reception area as their
the school’s reception area as their greeter and phone operator to help pay
greeter and phone operator to help pay
greeter and phone operator to help pay for her room and board everyone acted as
for her room and board everyone acted as
for her room and board everyone acted as if the abuse never happened
if the abuse never happened
if the abuse never happened counseling or therapy wasn’t provided or
counseling or therapy wasn’t provided or
counseling or therapy wasn’t provided or even discussed during this time she
even discussed during this time she
even discussed during this time she would travel home on the weekends and
would travel home on the weekends and
would travel home on the weekends and was able to get to know her dad better
was able to get to know her dad better
was able to get to know her dad better on Tuesday February 11th 1986 in her
on Tuesday February 11th 1986 in her
on Tuesday February 11th 1986 in her dorm room she woke up from a dream where
dorm room she woke up from a dream where
dorm room she woke up from a dream where death was knocking on her door she went
death was knocking on her door she went
death was knocking on her door she went to pull the curtain back and look out as
to pull the curtain back and look out as
to pull the curtain back and look out as she pulled it back the cloaked figure
she pulled it back the cloaked figure
she pulled it back the cloaked figure raised its hood and she saw the face of
raised its hood and she saw the face of
raised its hood and she saw the face of her dad the next morning she told her
her dad the next morning she told her
her dad the next morning she told her roommate about it and decided it was
roommate about it and decided it was
roommate about it and decided it was probably something they had eaten the
probably something they had eaten the
probably something they had eaten the night before three days later on
night before three days later on
night before three days later on Valentine’s Day she went home for the
Valentine’s Day she went home for the
Valentine’s Day she went home for the weekend pulling into her parents
weekend pulling into her parents
weekend pulling into her parents driveway and seeing all of the vehicles
driveway and seeing all of the vehicles
driveway and seeing all of the vehicles she felt strangely prepared for the news
she felt strangely prepared for the news
she felt strangely prepared for the news of her dad’s death that awaited for her
of her dad’s death that awaited for her
of her dad’s death that awaited for her on the other side of the door it took
on the other side of the door it took
on the other side of the door it took years to unlock the pain with the key
years to unlock the pain with the key
years to unlock the pain with the key that had been provided to her in that
that had been provided to her in that
that had been provided to her in that dream due to financial difficulty she
dream due to financial difficulty she
dream due to financial difficulty she returned home her second semester of her
returned home her second semester of her
returned home her second semester of her senior year to graduate with a senior
senior year to graduate with a senior
senior year to graduate with a senior class of over 700 students instead of
class of over 700 students instead of
class of over 700 students instead of the less than 30 in the previous class
the less than 30 in the previous class
the less than 30 in the previous class she worked nights to help her mom pay
she worked nights to help her mom pay
she worked nights to help her mom pay their utility bills
their utility bills
their utility bills she remembered on occasion being jostled
she remembered on occasion being jostled
she remembered on occasion being jostled awake by classmates in her first period
awake by classmates in her first period
awake by classmates in her first period chemistry class due to the lack of sleep
chemistry class due to the lack of sleep
chemistry class due to the lack of sleep for years she had difficulty trusting
for years she had difficulty trusting
for years she had difficulty trusting others and struggled with fear of
others and struggled with fear of
others and struggled with fear of abandonment due the lack of protection
abandonment due the lack of protection
abandonment due the lack of protection from people that a child should be able
from people that a child should be able
from people that a child should be able to depend upon she also wasted a lot of
to depend upon she also wasted a lot of
to depend upon she also wasted a lot of energy and time in her adult life being
energy and time in her adult life being
energy and time in her adult life being angry for what happened to her as a
angry for what happened to her as a
angry for what happened to her as a child I see sadness on some of your
child I see sadness on some of your
child I see sadness on some of your faces but I didn’t come here to make you
faces but I didn’t come here to make you
faces but I didn’t come here to make you sad I came here to offer you hope see
sad I came here to offer you hope see
sad I came here to offer you hope see that little girl was me and I believe
that little girl was me and I believe
that little girl was me and I believe strongly in the ability of people to
strongly in the ability of people to
strongly in the ability of people to overcome difficulties and
overcome difficulties and
overcome difficulties and life through the choices that they make
life through the choices that they make
life through the choices that they make and the hope that is offered to them the
and the hope that is offered to them the
and the hope that is offered to them the picture that you can see is the house
picture that you can see is the house
picture that you can see is the house that I grew up in the little baby in the
that I grew up in the little baby in the
that I grew up in the little baby in the arms of the mother in this picture that
arms of the mother in this picture that
arms of the mother in this picture that is me before my mother and dad were
is me before my mother and dad were
is me before my mother and dad were divorced the little boy in that picture
divorced the little boy in that picture
divorced the little boy in that picture became a teenager that used to drive his
became a teenager that used to drive his
became a teenager that used to drive his dad home from the bars so that he
dad home from the bars so that he
dad home from the bars so that he wouldn’t wreck another vehicle but
wouldn’t wreck another vehicle but
wouldn’t wreck another vehicle but unfortunately my brother continued in
unfortunately my brother continued in
unfortunately my brother continued in the steps of our dad he drank so much in
the steps of our dad he drank so much in
the steps of our dad he drank so much in his life that he got to where his
his life that he got to where his
his life that he got to where his pancreas would not work a little more
pancreas would not work a little more
pancreas would not work a little more than five years ago he lost a lot of
than five years ago he lost a lot of
than five years ago he lost a lot of weight and was very ill two weeks before
weight and was very ill two weeks before
weight and was very ill two weeks before he died I talked about a choices
he died I talked about a choices
he died I talked about a choices presentation this presentation that I
presentation this presentation that I
presentation this presentation that I give to students and adults
give to students and adults
give to students and adults he asked me said will you continue to
he asked me said will you continue to
he asked me said will you continue to help reach the kids who grew up like us
help reach the kids who grew up like us
help reach the kids who grew up like us I’m doing my best to keep my promise the
I’m doing my best to keep my promise the
I’m doing my best to keep my promise the choices we make impact our lives this
choices we make impact our lives this
choices we make impact our lives this picture you can see I didn’t go to
picture you can see I didn’t go to
picture you can see I didn’t go to alcohol I went to food for comfort I
alcohol I went to food for comfort I
alcohol I went to food for comfort I gained a lot of weight in my 30s the
gained a lot of weight in my 30s the
gained a lot of weight in my 30s the doctors told me my doctor told me that
doctors told me my doctor told me that
doctors told me my doctor told me that my blood pressure was 200 over 110 but
my blood pressure was 200 over 110 but
my blood pressure was 200 over 110 but see people that have been abused
see people that have been abused
see people that have been abused sometimes will do things to harm
sometimes will do things to harm
sometimes will do things to harm themselves to cover up the pain that
themselves to cover up the pain that
themselves to cover up the pain that they feel and that’s what I did by
they feel and that’s what I did by
they feel and that’s what I did by overeating so I didn’t want to be
overeating so I didn’t want to be
overeating so I didn’t want to be unhealthy when I found out that I could
unhealthy when I found out that I could
unhealthy when I found out that I could possibly have a stroke so I started
possibly have a stroke so I started
possibly have a stroke so I started walking I started running I ran a 5k I
walking I started running I ran a 5k I
walking I started running I ran a 5k I ran a marathon
ran a marathon
ran a marathon I’ve ridden bikes up mountains and I’ve
I’ve ridden bikes up mountains and I’ve
I’ve ridden bikes up mountains and I’ve even jumped out of an airplane twice I’m
even jumped out of an airplane twice I’m
even jumped out of an airplane twice I’m not sure that that contributes to
not sure that that contributes to
not sure that that contributes to healthy living but it is exhilarating
healthy living but it is exhilarating
healthy living but it is exhilarating I’m also a biker mom and in my toolbox
I’m also a biker mom and in my toolbox
I’m also a biker mom and in my toolbox I have a costume for that what’s in your
I have a costume for that what’s in your
I have a costume for that what’s in your toolbox
toolbox
toolbox what are you doing or what are you not
what are you doing or what are you not
what are you doing or what are you not doing that you want to do
doing that you want to do
doing that you want to do are you living life to its fullest I
are you living life to its fullest I
are you living life to its fullest I have the opportunity now to live my
have the opportunity now to live my
have the opportunity now to live my dream I get to work in our governor’s
dream I get to work in our governor’s
dream I get to work in our governor’s office governor ASA Hutchinson’s office
office governor ASA Hutchinson’s office
office governor ASA Hutchinson’s office and I get to help make our state a
and I get to help make our state a
and I get to help make our state a better place for the children who are
better place for the children who are
better place for the children who are most vulnerable but not only do our
most vulnerable but not only do our
most vulnerable but not only do our choices affect us our choices also
choices affect us our choices also
choices affect us our choices also affect those that are closest to us the
affect those that are closest to us the
affect those that are closest to us the two little girls in the middle of this
two little girls in the middle of this
two little girls in the middle of this picture of this frame those are my
picture of this frame those are my
picture of this frame those are my daughters had I left them when they were
daughters had I left them when they were
daughters had I left them when they were that age where would they be would they
that age where would they be would they
that age where would they be would they have been able to go to the Wall of
have been able to go to the Wall of
have been able to go to the Wall of China travel to Europe go to law school
China travel to Europe go to law school
China travel to Europe go to law school maybe but would it have been more
maybe but would it have been more
maybe but would it have been more difficult likely so as we prepare to
difficult likely so as we prepare to
difficult likely so as we prepare to close our choices are like the stitches
close our choices are like the stitches
close our choices are like the stitches in my first quilt some choices are
in my first quilt some choices are
in my first quilt some choices are mistakes needing to be ripped out and
mistakes needing to be ripped out and
mistakes needing to be ripped out and reconstructed again some lack perfection
reconstructed again some lack perfection
reconstructed again some lack perfection but are strong enough to keep and to
but are strong enough to keep and to
but are strong enough to keep and to learn from while other choices are
learn from while other choices are
learn from while other choices are perfect all of them making up the
perfect all of them making up the
perfect all of them making up the masterpiece we call life let’s go back
masterpiece we call life let’s go back
masterpiece we call life let’s go back remember the little I I believe every
remember the little I I believe every
remember the little I I believe every choice you make is significant for your
choice you make is significant for your
choice you make is significant for your future and for the people that you care
future and for the people that you care
future and for the people that you care most about life is the sum of our
most about life is the sum of our
most about life is the sum of our choices thank you
”
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