How Does CTE Reach the Unreachable Student?

How Does CTE Reach the Unreachable Student?

First, I must answer the question, “What is CTE?” CTE stands for Career & Technical Education.

The next question, I’m guessing, is, “What does CTE do?” CTE provides students - middle school, high school, and post secondary - with technical skills, and hands-on experience needed for a career or for future education. It also offers students a chance to experience the “soft skills” that so many students are never exposed to.

According to careertech.org/cte, CTE provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge, and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. There are more than 12.5 million enrolled in CTE courses across the country. And, the average graduation rate for students who are CTE concentrators is approximately 90% - which is 15% higher than non CTE concentrators.

I’m guessing that there are still a few questions about what CTE, like what kind of courses are we really talking about here. There are sixteen different career clusters that are recognized nationally as a Career & Technical Education program (found at careertech.org/career-clusters):

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Architecture & Construction

Arts, A/V Technology, & Communications

Business Management and Administration

Education & Training

Finance

Government & Public Administration
Health Science

Hospitality & Tourism

Human Services

Information Technology

Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Manufacturing

Marketing

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

These are all technical terms and actual information from some of the websites that I checked out. But what CTE REALLY is, is a future. Let me tell you about me, and my experience with Career & Technical Education and why I am 100% convinced that it reaches the students that are sometimes unreachable in other courses.

As a sophomore in high school, I still was not sure what I wanted to do when I grew up. If you’ve read any of my previous posts, or if you know me, you’ll probably know that I wanted to be everything from Dolly Parton to a fighter jet pilot and everything in between. And honestly, I still don’t know what I want to do when I “grow up”. As a 15-year old though, I really had no clue. One day in the spring of that school year, the principal from the Vocational School (back in the 80’s and 90’s it was referred to as Vocational Education - the term Career & Technical Education came about in the early 2000’s) came to our Health & PE class to tell us about all the courses offered at the school. I knew a little bit about it, but not everything. I decided to come to the school and visit to see things in action; see it for myself. That visit changed my path. My brother had taken drafting, but he was always good at all things technical and he could draw just about anything free-handed. Me, not so much. When I came into the drafting classroom and saw the drafting tables and machines and equipment, and even the computer and the classroom plotter, I was hooked! I knew that this was something that I wanted to do and I had two school years to try it out and see if it was for me! My excitement and enthusiasm in finding a possible career path for myself was quickly dashed upon returning to the high school when I was met with disappointment and negativity by three teachers that I respected very much and I was met with extreme resistance by a guidance counselor who told me, “College preparatory students don’t go over there.” - as if it were some sort of disease. No matter how much I stressed to them that this was a valid and profitable career path and that I would benefit greatly for being part of it, I was still met with that same negative reaction and resistance. It finally took my dad, going to the school superintendant at the time, to get my schedule fixed so that I could attend the following school year.

My Junior year in high school finally came, and I was headed to the Vocational School to take Drafting. I found out quickly that I loved it! No, I was not perfect at it and I struggled with several things that year, but it was the first class that I truly felt at home in and felt that I was actually doing something that would help me in my life. The teacher was great! I was content with my place in the second row of desks and content learning how to draw all of the drafting line types and shapes and use all the tools. My teacher had talked to the class about VICA (the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America - it is now known as SkillsUSA) and about all of the benefits of being a member and participating in the organization at the school level, at district level, and even at the state level. He explained to us that it was more than a club and described many different opportunities with involvement. It sounded great, but I was happy with being in the classroom; an anonymous girl on the second row, happily drawing her day away! Little did I know that my teacher, thought otherwise! He asked me if I would consider running for local office and I told him of my love for the second row and anonymity. He asked again the next day and I gave him the same answer. The third day, however; was a completely different story. He was pouting at me! He wouldn’t hardly talk to me. He would answer my classroom questions and help me when I needed it with an assignment, but for three days, that was all the interaction I had with this man that I admired. When I came back in on Monday and told him that I would run for local office, the pouting stopped, and he was the same fella that I’d met on the first day of school!

Now, I’ve never been one who is known for being quiet, but it was usually just in small groups or one on one, never really getting up in front of a large group of people - especially people I had to see every single day of the school year - and talking. So my campaign speech was very much less than inspiring! When I stood behind the podium that morning, I was literally shaking in my shoes and my occasional stutter when in a stressful situation was very much prevalent. I barely remembered my name, which high school I attended, which class I was in, what office I was running for, let alone why in this world anyone should actually vote for me. I was never so relieved in my life than to sit back down. Amazingly though, I won the election. I was the newly elected VICA Secretary for the AM class. To this day, I’m pretty sure I got the sympathy vote - I’m pretty sure they all just felt sorry for me! Regardless, the office was mine to do with and learn for the school year. For those that don’t know much about VICA (SkillsUSA) there is always an Opening Ceremony at the beginning of each meeting to describe the emblem and the colors of the emblem. My part as Secretary was about the Orbital Circles. Well, my mouth had a very difficult time saying, “Orbital Circles,” so during all the practices, I always got that part wrong. I just knew the first meeting was going to be horrendous with my emblem part. I was pleasantly surprised on the day of the first meeting that I actually annunciated the Orbital Circles correctly and I didn’t stumble with the words or forget anything! I took a deep breath, relieved, and started moving toward the easel holding the emblem, to attach my piece, and just as I was about to step off of the stage, I got my heel caught on the top step and nearly face planted in front of about 80 of my closest friends. Thankfully, the Historian caught the tail of my jacket before I fell all the way over so I didn’t actually wipe out, but my face was bright red - probably even redder than my VICA blazer - and most of the audience was laughing. As I hung that emblem piece up on the stand, I realized something about myself. I realized that if I could survive being that embarrassed in front of my peers, that I could probably do anything that I set my mind to. That was probably “THE” true turning point in my teenage life. I went on that school year to give a speech at a district rally, compete in Extemporaneous Speaking, Student of the Year, and Opening & Closing Ceremonies competitions at the district level, and then go on to the state level in Opening & Closing Ceremonies and Extemporaneous Speaking, all while running for State Secretary. Our Opening & Closing Ceremonies team placed 3rd in the state and I placed 3rd in the state in Extemporaneous Speaking. My bid for state office though, well, I lost that to a girl from Richmond. While that part was disappointing to me, I was shocked and thrilled at the same time when the State Director approached my principal and told her that even though I’d lost the election for state office, I’d still acquired enough votes from the delegation to run for a National VICA Office if they would let me. They let me!! In June that year, I traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to the National VICA Skills and Leadership Championships to run for National VICA Region II Vice President! And that time, I won!!!!!

My senior year in high school was amazing - all because I went over there to the Vocational School, took the drafting class, got pouted at by my teacher, ran for local office, nearly fell on my face in front of the whole school, lost my run for state office, and was a newly elected - and first ever from my school - National VICA Officer!  I spent two weeks in August before school started in Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine, where I flew for the first time, went white water rafting for the very first time, went out on a whale watching excursion in the Atlantic, at lobster and crab for the first time ever, and had the most incredible officer training sessions with 14 other National Officers from all over the country. I spent a week in Washington DC where I was able to participate in ceremonies at the National Cathedral, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and JFK’s grave, speak at a breakfast before members of the 102nd Congress, and meet students and advisors from all over the country. I spent another week there with people from all over Virginia. I traveled to many places in Virginia that year with the State Officer team. Made memories and friends that I still hold dear to this day. And at the end of the school year, I traveled back to Louisville where I relinquished my office to another. But it was so worth it! That year, those two years, they completely changed my life and my perspective on who I was and what I could do with my life! Even with all my travels during that school year, I still managed to graduate just out of the top 10% of my senior class, I was still a member of the National Honors Society, and to top all that off, I won a scholarship - the only one that was given out in the county that school year - that paid for my college tuition for 2 years and a second scholarship that paid for my books for all but the last semester that I was in school. Not too bad for someone who wasn’t supposed to go to the Vocational School.

I can say, without any doubt, I am who I am today because of going to that drafting class, because of my teacher pouting, because of taking a chance and running for that local office, for losing a bid at a state office, and most definitely, because of those that had faith enough in me to encourage me and allow me to run for the National office. I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing had I simply stayed at the high school because Vocational School wasn’t cool for College bound students. Not only did I learn a skill with drafting that I’ve used every day of my adult working life, but I also learned those “Soft Skills” that so many people lack. And, my college  was nearly paid for because of it all. My teachers at the high school cared about me, I know this. There were also certain ones of them that I really respected and that did make an impact on my life. But all of the teachers at the Vocational School - not just the one I had in the drafting class - but all of them, definitely helped to mold me, shape me, encourage me, and prepare me for my future.

THIS is what Career & Technical Education is. This is why CTE classes can reach more students than mainstream English, math, science, etc. Now please, don’t go fussing because I said that. Some kids do really well in all of those type classes, so please don’t think that I’m trying to put down “regular” classroom type classes for students. Courses like:  Horticulture, Agriculture, Veterinary Assistant, Animal Science, Accounting, Graphic Design, Finance, CISCO Networking, Advertising Design, Automotive Service Technology, Automotive Refinishing and Collision Repair Technology, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Certified Nursing Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Welding, CAD/Drafting, Building Trades, Masonry, Carpentry, Computer Repair & many more that I know I’m leaving off, can offer kids today a career. Some classes can send their students out into the workforce as licensed professionals while others can prepare students to go on to college to further their career path. The courses offer students hands-on experience - did you read that right? Let’s try it again just in case - hands-on experience into their trade area. Many of these courses also offer college credit through Dual Enrollment opportunities with local community colleges or even universities, where students can earn college credit just by attending and passing their CTE class during a school year. And to top off the excellent hands-on, real-world learning these kids are doing in their classes, they are also getting leadership and management experience, and knowledge of those “soft skills” I mentioned earlier through Career & Technical Student Organizations such as SkillsUSA, TSA, FBLA, FFA, DECA, HOSA, FCCLA, BPA, and FEA (see http://www.acteonline.org/general.aspx?id=762#.Vqu8E0YgQZM for more information about Student Organizations).

THIS is how CTE reaches the unreachable student! I could go on and on with telling you about my experiences and about CTE. My life is just one example. I know that there are many out there. Please, share your CTE story here; whether it’s yours, your child’s, someone you know, or if you’re a teacher and have seen the success of CTE.

It's a Heart Problem

It’s a heart problem…

July 9, 2015

As I sit and watch the tv news, read my news feed on social media, hear news reported on the radio, or gather news from any other forms of media I come into contact with during the day, all that makes headlines anymore is someone being offended by something. The way I see it, there are things that happen, things we see, things that are said, and many other “things” out there, that we all could take offense to in some way, shape, or fashion – should we choose to do so. I also believe that it’s not a true problem of being offended by a flag or piece of history, or being offended by someone else’s comments, or being offended by whatever, I think it’s a problem that lies within our hearts. Yes, OUR hearts are the problems.  I’m sure someone will get offended by this post, and honestly, I don’t really care. I don’t care because there are so many more offenses in life to be truly offended by and honestly, if we all agreed on the same things and liked the same things; wouldn’t that be a terribly boring life? If you’re already offended or ticked off, stop reading here and more than likely, don’t open up another blog that I post.

I’ve thought about this for a while before writing this. I wanted to share with you some of the things that could possibly offend me, should I care to be loud and extremely whiny about it for long enough. I am offended that in The Lord of the Rings they refer to the hobbits at “the little ones.” I’m offended that Gandalf has to be either Grey or White; he can’t just be Gandalf (and from the Hobbit Radagast has to be brown – who wants to be brown?). I’m offended that when Aragorn is talked about as “the Ranger from the North,” that those discussing him say those words with disdain. I’m offended that Orcs have to be called mindless and that Sauron is only an eye of flame. Do you “hear” how truly silly and trivial that all sounds? No, you say? Well, allow me to keep going. I’m offended that Bilbo’s twelve traveling companions in The Hobbit are referred to as Dwarves. I’m offended that Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones is referred to as the Imp. I’m offended by people who root for the Dallas Cowboys or University of Florida. I’m offended because a house that I pass on a daily basis while driving, has decided to change their siding color to a hideous sky blue color – I mean seriously, who does that? Silly yet? I truly hope that it is beginning to get that way to you. Because in no way, shape, or form, would I dig up J.R.R. Tolkien and advise him that his literary works of art offend me because of distinguishing one character from another. Nor would I do that to George R.R. Martin. Nor would I track down all the Cowboy or Gator fans and tell them that they’re nuts for liking the team that they like. And I certainly wouldn’t stop at the sky blue house and tell the owner that they were nuts – if they can live with that color, who am I to tell them otherwise. 

I can completely feel your eyes rolling at me right about now – for those of you who continued to read, anyway. Don’t do that, it’s really not nice! I realize that my examples in the previous paragraph are somewhat comical or even juvenile, but in actuality, aren’t most of the loudest complaints now a days the same? I choose not to be offended by The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit because I truly love the works of art – the books and all six of the movies. I choose not to be offended by those that like the Cowboys, because I know, love, and respect many people that choose to pull for that team. I even have family that pull for the Gators but I refuse to let that fact change my feelings for these people. Not to mention here, that my choice in not letting these nit-picky things offend me, is another key to this example. No two people are ever going to see eye to eye 100% of the time on 100% of the issues. It just ain’t gonna happen. These differences in each other are what makes us all unique and gives us all character. We should all have differences of opinions and beliefs and desires. It comes down to what is in our hearts that truly sets us apart from each other and truly creates the insurmountable differences. Whether we have a love for ALL mankind – no matter of race, religion, creed, nationality, background, upbringing, wealth, etc. If our hearts are so hardened that love doesn’t exist there for other people, we’re lost. If the only love that we have in our hearts is for ourselves and our own foolishness, then we are truly worse than lost, with no hope of ever coming back.

Do you want to know some “things” that truly do offend me? Again, if you don’t want to “hear” it, close this out now.  I am offended and appalled that the men and women of MY United States Military return home to ridicule, medical problems, and struggle. I am appalled that our military veterans live with the scars – physical and emotional – that they received because they were of the few, the proud, and the brave, that stepped up to defend my right to be offended and appalled, and my right to voice that offense. I am appalled that our nation’s elderly – the ones that helped to build this country from the ground up through their blood, sweat, and tears – are having to make monthly decisions as to whether or not to pay their electric bill, buy their medicines, or buy groceries. I am offended and appalled by those who sit on their ever widening behinds and expect me to work my butt off every day so they can sit home and do nothing but hold their hand out for a check – when there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with them. I am offended by a nation that has forsaken itself and its people and it cares more for things than for beings. I am offended that someone could get life in prison for abusing an animal but yet only get a slap on the wrist or nothing at all for molesting or killing a child. I am offended that our nation has lost its values, its morals, its common decency, its beliefs in good and evil, right and wrong. I am offended that someone, anyone, would even hint that I am a lesser person because of my sex, my religion, my race, my education, or any other thing that is mine. I am offended by people who wear their pants down so low that I have to look at their underwear and they’re too busy holding on to those drooping pants to do anything of purpose. I am offended that I cannot mention God in my school classroom for fear of losing my job. Oh…, these are just a start of all the things that I’m offended by. I’m going to stop here for sake of time.

I suppose the difference in my first “offense” paragraph and the paragraph above, if you look closely, is that the first “offense” paragraph is that I’m outraged over actual “things”. I don’t see how we can allow our service men and women to be treated badly or to not be taken care of properly after they have given all for me. I don’t see how we can allow our elderly to suffer and struggle because if it was not for them, NONE of us would be here. I don’t see why valuable parts of my paycheck have to go to supporting someone that will not work to support themselves. Yes – before you get all up in arms about that – I do know that there are people who cannot work – there is a HUGE difference in those that cannot work and need the help, as opposed to those who will not work. I also think if you’re sick enough to purposely abuse an animal or worse than sick enough to molest a child, that there is no place for you in society among the living. And would someone please, tell me, how in the world it could be comfortable having the waistband of your pants hanging down around your knees? Nobody wants to see your underwear – Pull ‘em up! How hard is it to be good, to have love and RESPECT for one another? Where has all of the kindness gone in this world? 

If I actually listed all the things, fictional or real, that offend me or that I could possibly find offense in, this blog post would be hundreds of thousands of pages long, or more. There are many injustices in life. If you read any history books or research any lives before our own, injustices have always happened. That’s life. Things are going to happen that I don’t like. I’m going to see things that bug me. And you know what – tough crap! It happens, it’s always happened, and as long as any human being has anything to do with it, it’s going to continue to happen. Get over it! As someone once told me, “Put on your big girl panties; suck it up, and GO ON!” Get the darkness and the yuck out of your heart and embrace the differences in everyone for their own uniqueness. Stop spending valuable time and energy focused on what you can do to destroy someone else. Stop whining because the world isn’t laid on a golden platter at your precious feet. Stop filling up the news with all that is offensive in this world and live your own life. Until we all – worldwide, not just in this country; until we all get over ourselves and truly love one another for who and what we are, we’re going to continue to be in the mess that we’re in right now. We’re going to continue to have mountains made out of molehills. We’re going to focus on things that really need not be focused on. Focus on the important things, the human things. We don’t have to always like one another, but we do have to love each other. And with all the heart problems floating around in today’s day and age, we’ve really got our work cut out for us. 

I will not apologize for my views. I will not apologize for anything that is written here. They are my views and I have the right to see them that way. As I said in the beginning, if you were worried about being offended, you should have stopped reading this long before you got here. The blame for your offense lies squarely on your own shoulders. Love each other, People – it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do, but in the end, it’ll be the most rewarding and others around us will be far better than we will be.

Until next time…

Direction

Direction

May 28, 2015

As I sit here this evening, with thousands of things floating through my mind all at once, there is one song that keeps floating to the top; “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful” by Gary Allan. It starts out by saying, “Life ain’t always beautiful. Sometimes it’s just plain hard. Life can knock you down; it can break your heart.” From where I sit right now, that is the honest truth.

I started this blog as a way of writing, sharing my thoughts, and really getting the experience of telling a story to someone other than my poor husband that gets stuck listening to all of my tales. My original goal, and I believe it was actually in the very first “Welcome” post that I put up, was that I wanted this blog to be light and funny. There have been times over the last year and a half that I have veered off into the more serious and sometimes even “preachy” posts. There have been some funny ones too, but as the song I mentioned earlier stated, “Life ain’t always beautiful.” There are not always sunny days. There are not always peaks. Sometimes we have rain and even storms roll through our lives. And sometimes, we find ourselves in the lowest valley imaginable. For all light, there is the absence of that light, and for all good, there are those that have forever abandoned it. So all posts, no matter how much I’d like for them to be, cannot be funny and happy. For that, I’m sorry, as I whole-heartedly wish there was another way around that.

Sometimes changes in directions can come willingly. That happened to me when I decided to stop working in industry and venture in to teaching my trade to high schoolers. Boy, what a change in direction! Sometimes good changes come a little unexpectedly. Take this blog for instance; I never thought I’d be a writer, although I’ve written hundreds of pages of things in my life. My directional change when I met my husband was unexpected, but it was good unexpected and has led to the life that I’ve got now. The directional change to start “farming” was also unexpected, but even though it’s been and will be lots of hard work, it’s been so worth it. And sometimes, this life of ours seems to take wild turns and curves at unexpected intervals. We can truly believe that we’ve got our cruise control on and our autopilot set, but in actuality, it is NOT in our control. Life has a way of completely changing our direction with absolutely no advanced warning. One day all is ok, the next, WHAM, everything is completely upside down. Life has done that to me and my family at the moment. We are facing a health situation with my dad that none of us ever dreamed would hit. It’s one of those situations where you hear of others facing these problems, but not anyone that you know closely. Things that were once so important and “needed,” now seem to pale in comparison to what is actually required for that moment. Everyday routines that were maybe a little hum-drum and taken for granted have become wonderful and cherished when they’re possible. Good days, when things are right with Dad, have become few, but when they arrive, they’re absolutely precious and priceless. Extended family that you usually only see on holidays have become invaluable in helping with things that you really didn’t know you needed help with. Friends, acquaintances, and even strangers have offered loving kindness that will never be able to be repaid. Most importantly, you find many people of many beliefs, and all of them offering prayers and love at a much needed time. 

I’ve learned a lot about directional changes over the last few weeks. I’ve ridden emotional rollercoasters before, but man when they hit, they’re enough to make you puke up your toenails after all the humps, bumps, and loops go through. So like me, this blog will from time to time take a change in direction. I don’t know when I’ll be able to do so, but I would like to chronical some things that we experience with this illness. I would like for it to be out there for people that will be experiencing the same thing my family is currently going through. No cases will ever be the same, but knowing that you’re not alone in the turmoil, that someone else has experienced something similar, that can certainly help. That part may be long in the future, but I do want to share it, one day.

None of us know what tomorrow brings, so sometimes, you’ve got to be willing to ride the ride and see where it takes you. The good thing is, that the valleys don’t last forever, neither does the rain. Good comes out of all situations, even if we can’t see it when we’re in the midst of it. Everything happens for a reason, even if we don’t know what it is. And most importantly, we are NOT the ones controlling the ride. That’s all in God’s hands and His Will will happen and in His time. 

As a fitting end to this post, I think I’ll leave you with some more words of the song “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful,” “But the struggles make you stronger, and the changes make you wise. And happiness has its own way of taking its sweet time. No, life ain’t always beautiful. But I know I’ll be fine. Hey, life ain’t always beautiful, but it’s a beautiful ride.”

PS – Thanks for the Song Gary Allan!

The "ME" I Used to Be...

The “me” I used to be…

March 22, 2015

I guess the colder weather has had me a little reminiscent or something to that effect. It seems that my topics have become a little not-so-fun as I’d originally intended this blog to be. Sometimes certain things come into my mind and I feel like writing about them and sharing them, so, that is the reason for the more serious tones that I’ve taken lately. I hope that they’re still fun or at least thought provoking to you all as you’re reading them.

The thought for this one came as a result of some posts on Facebook from some people that I went to high school with. Different ones posting about the “remember when’s,” favorite classes and teachers, things we all did back in “the day.” You know the kind of posts I’m talking about. Well, the whole thing got me to thinking about how much of that part of my life I feel like I really don’t remember. I remember certain things; proms, specific teachers, close friends, firsts. I even remember my bus driver’s name. But it feels like so much that I probably should have paid attention to, so I would have better memories of it later, I seem to have lost. I know – getting older will do that to you, but I’m really not all that old yet.

I also wonder about the “me” that I was back then. I have always been terribly goofy and awkward. There are times, even now, in a new or unfamiliar situation; I couldn’t say “crap” with a mouthful of the stuff. I’m still just as clumsy now as I was when I was younger, possibly even more so – if that’s possible. I run my mouth about as much now as I did back then, probably even more so now that I get paid to talk to kids all day long. So there are some things that are the same as they’ve always been. I still like to argue (about certain things) and I still like to meet and talk to new people, so I’m still the “politician” my Pap-Paw always told me I was. And I’m still as big of a nerd now (maybe more so) as I was back then. What I don’t really remember was “who” I was back then.

I went to a small high school. Everybody pretty much knew everything about everyone. There were only sixty-eight in my graduating class, so we were a pretty close-knit group – all in all. There were small clicks; that happens with any group of teenagers, but nothing huge. We had ones that were what we called “preppy.” That mostly consisted of the cheerleaders and football players or the kids that were really, really smart – not all of them, mind you, fell into the category, but that was the general gist. The other click was what we called the “rednecks.” That mostly consisted of anybody that wore jeans and boots, or leather to school every day. I guess these were more of the ones that just didn’t conform to the rules or that didn’t really care what others thought of them. Then, there was everybody else in between. I was never a cheerleader nor was I among the very smart. I did wear boots to school a lot (still do as a matter of fact) but, I wasn’t rebellious. I was too scared of doing something wrong or getting in trouble to do anything rebellious. I supposed that means I fell into the in between category. I remember having friends of all sorts of “clicks,” so I don’t really know where I fell as far as social convention are concerned. I hope I was never mean to anyone, and I can honestly say that no one was really what one would call mean to me. There were times of disagreements with this one or that, but nothing terrible and nothing that left scars – physically or mentally.

I remember being very dependent on what people thought.  That is different now because I don’t have to have validation or approval to do something or think a certain way. I remember being very naïve, and I guess to an extent I still am this. I always think that everyone’s motives and intentions are genuine and wind up getting hurt in the process. I’ve always been strong willed and opinionated, but I remember being somewhat weak when I was younger. Life and some of the things that have happened to me over the years have hardened that. I can still have my weak moments, but nothing that I’m afraid to fight now. I remember feeling like a relationship validated who I was, like I was nothing without that guy with me. That has definitely changed. I have a wonderful relationship and marriage with my husband, but who I am is not validated by the relationship; it is encouraged and nurtured by the relationship, but it’s not what defines me as a person. That lesson took a while for me to learn. There was a time that I felt like I was lowly and didn’t deserve love or happiness, but that has definitely changed. My marriage has taught me of love and of happiness and that all people, no matter who they are deserve to be loved and to be happy.

I’m sure there are many other “for instances” that I could call up here, but I think I’ve touched on the important ones. I don’t really know who I was 20+/- years ago, but I do know who I am now. I am a strong, independent (probably too much so sometimes), opinionated, nerdy, goofy, awkward, clumsy, genuine woman who is now strong enough to think for herself and lucky enough to have love and be loved by my very best friend in the whole world.  So while I’m still the same Laura as I’ve always been, many traits, thoughts, needs, etc. of me are very different from the Laura I was many years ago.

The last thing that I wonder about, am I the only one who sits and ponders this stuff, or are there any others out there that have or do wonder the same things? Lol. Maybe not, but I’m probably the only one that takes the time to write about them! 

Tune in next time…