Getting involved in my community is driven by a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to make a positive impact. Witnessing the challenges and needs of those around me compels me to take action and contribute to the betterment of society. To influence change in my community, I have actively engaged in various initiatives. I have volunteered with local non-profit organizations, dedicating my time and skills to support their missions. Whether it's serving meals at a homeless shelter, organizing clothing drives, or participating in community clean-up projects, I strive to address immediate needs and foster a sense of unity among community members. Additionally, I have worked to promote change through advocacy and awareness campaigns. By leveraging social media platforms, organizing community forums, and collaborating with like-minded individuals, I aim to raise awareness about important issues and encourage others to join in creating positive change. Overall, my efforts to influence change in my community are driven by a genuine desire to uplift and empower those around me. By actively participating and engaging with my community, I believe we can create a stronger, more compassionate society for all. As a single parent of four its vital that I show that gratitude should be the attitude. I have lived in a homeless shelter, I have been without and I know what the littlest act of kindness and giving back can do for a community of individuals. Hope isn’t always easy to find in hard times, so if I can help someone anywhere find it well I have just made the world that much better in my opinion. I never forget being in a family dollar store and coming across a wall decor sticker and it read “ BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD”. Every since coming across those words that has been my goal. I want to see others inspired by my actions and experiences. Giving Comes in Many Forms I like use the M.E.A.T acronym Money Energy Attention Time If you we get into a habit of giving any of these things well now thats making a change And A very vital one. Giving is one of the greatest things you can give to others depending on the specific needs. I want to encourage others to give whenever the opportunity presents itself take it from me you will not regret it. Recently I had a chance to donate clothes to the migrants and it Was incredible Seeing there faces Light up. My final thoughts Are Do What You Can When You Can And Never Think twice !!!

First off I would personally like to thank and acknowledge the Divers foundation for this wonderful opportunity!! I am 33 and I'm a mother to four children. I have been blessed with both two boys and two girls. Living here in the states we know can be very demanding and very expensive. I am a first-generation college student who is pursuing a BA degree in the psychology of mental health field. As you can probably conclude I am also a single mom. As far as I could remember this has always been a strength of mine, simply because there is absolutely nothing I will not do for my children. Raising a family has changed my life all for the better in my very own experience. It has taught me that the unthinkable and untimely can happen so I must always be prepared. From the early morning hours of eating breakfast before sunrise to the late-night hospital visits just because my little ones will not always feel their best. Raising a family has been one of my greatest accomplishments thus far. I get to experience their different personalities, the way they express their love language toward me, and their gratitude as well. I am willing and dedicated to my children because they have seen and endured every struggle with me. We lived in a shelter in 2014 and I was heartbroken because I felt deep down that this wasn't the life they deserved. While in the shelter I made a promise to them and myself that I would not get comfortable and allow them to suffer because of my actions. With my determination and strong will, I was able to move me and my three children at the time into our very first townhome apartment located in Kokomo Indiana, only after being in the shelter for 7 months!!! I bet you wondering how did I make all this happen in such a short time. I will tell you. I got up each day with a goal in mind in that shelter. I was going to go to work and from there school then I was going to pick my children up and spend the Lil time I had left with them before bed helping them with homework etc. This was my everyday routine and before I knew it my hard work had paid off. Seeing my children's faces and their genuine love for me pushed me to go hard and not give in. The reason I want to get into the healthcare field is that I was helped when I struggled the most. I know how it feels to know that there is more to life, but yet not have a clue as to where to start or who to ask for the correct help you need. As a clinical psychologist, I can listen and administer as well as advocate on others' behalf for the best solutions possible. It is important to me to get into the healthcare field because growing up with a single parent I was not exposed to the best of the best like healthcare. Now that times have changed I can give back to the community I come from with pride and humility that I am doing the most good!!! I want to get into the healthcare field to show I can and will make a difference!!! It's not impossible with an end goal in mind and a smile to face any situation with a positive mindset. Resilience will path the way!!!

When you speak of loss it's never an easy subject to tackle. If you are human you have experienced some form of loss. In 2021 I lost two incredible men in my life. On May 19th I lost my grandfather Willie Williams and exactly one day later I lost my oldest brother on my mother's side James Davis to a car accident he was 37. Losing both of these men has made me realize how much life is a gift and that I should strive to make the most of every minute. When I lost these two men I made up my mind to go back to school and continue my college education so that I could follow in their footsteps and achieve my goals not only for myself but those depending on me. James and willie were two individuals and if you knew them then you already knew how they felt about family and friends. Their whole existence focused on family. I am getting my college degree because I know this is what they would want me to do To provide for my family. Dealing with death has caused me to learn healthy coping mechanisms through college and it had gave me a straightforward path and mindset. I always think of them and when I do I say to myself what would they do if they were here presented with the opportunity I have right now? I have days where I do feel down, but I under no circumstances allow self-pity to deter me from setting and accomplishing my goals. I plan on graduating first in my family from college with honors in both their Memory. This is how I use my pain to pursue my vision!!!

I do agree with this statement. Living with a parent struggling with addiction is very challenging. It can be very overwhelming and very narcissistic. Parents are given the role of a parent to help assist his/her child to grow up in a healthy environment and go on to do great things. They should be given the chance to experience healthy communication with others, especially their parents. I believe that how we choose to respond to life does play a key role in how it turns out. I grew up seeing my mom battle alcohol addiction and I also saw many others in my family deal with the same thing. I decided I was going to be the one to break the curse. I lost my Dad in 2015 and I began to drink heavily. I soon realized that I would go to sleep not even in my right mind and wake up feeling terrible. I quickly did away with the alcohol after a month or so. Life is all about how we choose to respond to situations that seem unbearable at times. This is where we must find healthy coping mechanisms to put into action and stick with them. I am a mother of 4 and I chose to be a great example. I don’t drink around them because I know the power of influence I possess. My children look at me as their hero and I just refuse to let them down. Alcohol addiction is nothing to take lightly. I was 31 when I watched my only auntie my mom’s sister lost her life to Cirrhosis of the liver, due to drinking every day. Alcohol addiction has run in my family for generations and I will be the one to put a stop to it. The only way I believe I will be successful at this is by taking the statement that “ how we choose to respond to life's challenges shapes our life.” I choose not to lose the battle with alcohol addiction by approaching it positively and not even being in the same environment as those who use it. I practice healthy coping mechanisms that will yield only great results.

My Dream is to become A successful psychiatrist. My Goal is to help those suffering from mental illness. I have seen the detrimental effects of this and my heart goes out to everyone who has or is currently experiencing this. I decided to get an education because after I lost many family members due to this I knew I had to put a stop to it. Getting an education starts right there. My goal is to “reach one and teach one” that we can and will win this battle in the end.

Hello, I am Dorothy Williams I am 33 years old. I have faced many difficulties and hardships in such a short time. The most recent hardship I have faced was losing both my cousins a week apart and then turning around and losing both my grandad and brother exactly a day apart in May of 2021. The way I learned to move forward was by remembering how they lived their lives and making a decision to live a life worthy of reflecting them. With everything that took place, I decided it was time for me to do as I said I would and go back to school. I found myself returning to school in December of 2021 and here I am today A straight-A student majoring in psychology. I could vividly recall my grandfather always sitting me down and being so gentle with me asking me what was I currently doing with my life and I’d just smile because I knew he was just so sincere and cared to support me no matter what. When it came to my brother we weren’t too far from one another in age difference so he motivated me by giving me the best advice a sister could receive from a brother he always told me to do what it is you desire out of life, because that’s what matters. If he only knew how much of that still sticks with me to this very day!! The way I learned to move forward from Hardships and tragedy is to live a a life that I know they would indeed be proud of!! I wake up intending to set out to make the world a better place, by showing up for myself and others daily. This was their nature while here so I just pick up the pieces and continue some days are tougher than others but that's when I dig deep and preserve and use all my grit to get me through it knowing that I have a mission that I have to accomplish. Losing my family members so close back to back has impacted my relationships with others in a very eye-opening way. I use eye opening because now I place so much value on family time and authenticity. I consider myself to be very cautious of how I spend my time and how I express my loving and caring nature for those close to me. The death of my loved ones almost sent me into depression. I had to learn how to cope with my emotions all while raising 4 children so it was not easy and it's these very hardships that makes me the person who I am today!!!

This subject hits home for me. I was the one with low self-esteem always seeking approval from those around me. As I began to spend time with myself, I learned that I was missing so much detail in my life. I would overlook the most important thing about myself which was how I felt about myself. I began to challenge myself to get up every day and say one positive thing about myself. As I began this process I noticed my confidence grew and grew. At first, I didn't believe what I was saying until I repeated it in the mirror multiple times. Confidence takes time to build if you're like me, sometimes it takes longer than we want it to. As being a women and African American. I had adopted the narrative that we was okay looking but never really beautiful as a European or other nationality women. I wanted the straight fine hair the skin tone etc. As you can see I was totally against who I was born as. Now at the age of 32 I embrace my culture to the fullest. I'm more confident than I could ever be only because I did the inner work. Acknowledging that this is who I am and confidence I wear it so well. It shows up in my everyday life!!!! I smile more, I compliment others and im just all-around happy I am able to write this With all honesty and integrity!!!! Confidence means so much to me because I've worked so hard all my life to fit in all to be alone at the end of the day. It means that I can now always make time for me and be okay and at peace. Being confident opens doors that you may have not even dreamed of!!!!!

Making Others Feel Loved Has always come naturally for me. I dedicated not only my time with my friends and family, but I share my wisdom with them as well. Spending quality time is the best form of Love one can show. We share our thoughts amongst one another rather it's comfortable at times or on the other hand not so comfortable. The closeness we create is not only a form of love but of respect. I make sure they have what they need versus what they want.I believe that the way you show love to friends and family is by giving them something of value which is knowledge. Something they can use in their everyday lives. I also show love by being a listening ear. Not chiming in on the conversation when it's a delicate issue for them, but giving them wise counsel by uplifting their spirits with something positive. Seeing the good in a negative situation is also how I explempfly my love. Love is an expression that creates a feeling you know when you are loved because it just shows even when it's hard to do at times. Protecting my loved ones in my eyes is giving them the truth raw uncut. Yes feelings may get hurt but, they will look back won't and say she gave me the truth and that is what I truly believe love consists of!!!!

Giving is important to me because it shows one character. I believe that if you give with a great attitude it will open so many doors for you. Being raised by a grandmother who was a caretaker to so many others she gave her time, wisdom, and love. You can give back so much with so little if you're sincere. The way I give back is I help others overcome challenges by speaking encouraging words to them. I also give back by being available as an advocate for those with no voice locked up in the prison's cells. I Have written letters to the government on behalf of Youth who are now adults that have been sentenced harshly. I also once visited a dying woman in an elderly home and spent the day with her. You see you can give in many ways and the great thing about giving back is it feels so good once done!!!! I'll continue to give because it's who I am Dorothy!!!!

I was inspired by my life experiences to return to school. I always have had a strong passion for writing and have always been eager to learn. I grew up on the south side of Chicago my parents were separated and my mom was a single black woman raising 4 children. As a child, I saw my mom raise me and my siblings all while battling an alcohol addiction. I remember DCFS (Department Of Children Family Services) being a part of her life once. We lived in the low-income Housing Projects. My mom gathered all her children around in the living room and calmly explained what was to shortly take place. As the days progressed on, it was as if we had a live-in visitor named Ms. Thomas, She was there almost 7 days out of a week. One thing I admire about my mom she never changed her routine, with how she cared for her children. She continued to do her motherly diligence. She'd get us up for school breakfast was ready to eat. Once we returned home for school she would already be started on dinner. My mother was the one who believed in leftovers and after homework, bathing, and dinner bedtime. She is an awesome mother. Ms. Thomas was a part of our lives for approximately 8 months and Almost lost her job because they found out later someone anonymously called in an act of retaliation against my mom. I decided to go back to school to better myself for my children. Also, like my mom I'm a single mom of 4 children, I want to be a greater mom than my mom was. She has been a great role model when it comes to standing firm on what you believe in. She's not easily persuaded at all. She's been independent since before I was even born. I believe it's her childhood and the life she endured that played a major part as to why she became the mom she became. I also decided to return to school so I can be a great role model to my children. I want to model that it doesn't matter your background, your problems it doesn't even matter where you start all that matters is how you finish and how you manage your time giving. I am in school to be an example of what tenacity and dedication look like and can achieve. I dropped out of school as a teenager, went back a few times before accomplishing my goal of attaining my GED in 2018. I have been in a homeless shelter with my children and I have promised them that they would never have to worry about that ever again as long as I was well-bodied and able to provide. I've successfully been on my own for approximately 8 years and counting. With Everything that has tried to distract me and stop me from being a great individual, I always knew that if allowed to return to school, to further my education I would not let it pass me by under no circumstances.

Someone in my life that has made an impact on my educational journey is my Godmother Danielle. She’s very influential when it comes to education and she stresses how she feels it can be very relevant in the future. Danielle is what you would describe as selfless. She's never too busy and when she is she still makes time somehow. We both are currently in school. I am going for my BA IN psychology, she’s working on her master's in accounting. whenever I need help with an assignment or just didn't understand something involving my school work, I dial her up and she's always willing to assist me. She has been a great motivation to me all throughtout grammar school , high school and now college. I remember when I lost my dad I was a freshman in high school. She was right by my side encouraging me to stand strong, but My mind was clouded by the pain so I ended up dropping out as a straight-A and B student. I felt alone my dad was my best friend. Not having a really strong family relationship with my mom and siblings I turned to the one person I knew would welcome me with open arms, my Godmother. I will give back by being selfless to others as well, willing to lend a hand by gaining the knowledge necessary through my education. I'll inspire others to always Dream Big And Be Bold. No matter how big the obstacle in front of you may appear to be. Consistency through the habit of goal setting, will assure to be profitable. I wasn't sure at first if furthering my education was the right choice, Being that I just could not afford it yet independently on my own. I now believe that it was the only option, if I want to accomplish my lifelong goal of being a first-generation graduate in my family. I plan on standing before thousands of young people and telling my story of how I came from nothing literally to having everything I desired the career, the great support from one person, and self-belief. All because of one person who believed in me. Changing how one sees him or herself through mental clarity helped me. I was exposed to a lot at an early age. My parents were separated I was the middle child of four and I just knew I was different. I also knew I wanted to make a difference just didn't have the resources available to me at the time. I'll give life examples of how I had to go to a live-in shelter work a job and go to school, all while being a single mother to three young children. It's all about perception. People will and can label you all they want but it's how you see yourself, like that makes all the difference. I didn't see myself as someone who wouldn't go to college one day because of my finances not did I let society shape my beliefs around there's. Plan Plan Plan Was All I did and sticking to those plans my education had finally become a reality. Now I will go on to complete my degree program and become a first-generation undergraduate!!! Motivating others is my way of giving back to my community through my life experiences.