MY LITTLE DETERMINATION
I was seventeen, pregnant and scared there was no help that was going to come from the father. And I still had to graduate high school. ... read >
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JASON'S VISION
He began by opening a gift shop, and has not only created a place for his friends and family with disabilities to craft and create, but also formed a strong networking resource. ... read >
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A STRANGE EXAMPLE
Is it strange to tell a story about a cat? I know cats don’t have the higher moral capabilities humans are said to posses, but my cat is nothing if not persistent. ... read >
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FOOD IN THE WORLD OF UNEMPLOYMENT
Nearly a year ago now, I had been unemployed for 3 months, No income, no food! Mother and 11 year old daughter. My landlady to whom i could not pay rent either decided to make a commitment to us. She said "I will not let you go without until you are settled again!".
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TEACH THEM IN THE WAY TO GO
My father used some unusual techniques to teach us and rarely spared us from the school of hard lessons. These are the two I cherish most. ... read >
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FINALLY GRADUATING
As my password, I called myself “mountainclimber.” The journey was difficult and every hill seemed higher to climb. I suppose the thing that pulled me through was when I couldn't do it for myself, I could do it to honor my friend! ... read >
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DREAMS DO COME TRUE
Married with two children at thirty-eight, I grew restless. I was unhappy with my job and felt exhausted at the end of the day. I wanted to do something creative with my life. “Life begins at forty” became my mantra. ... read >
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MAKING FRIENDS, LOSING ENEMIES
I didn’t wear make-up, and I didn’t wear those awesome bell-bottom pants. I didn’t exactly look like the coolest girl. But, I kept smiling at her, though she rolled her eyes, and I kept telling her she looked beautiful, even if she sighed in irritation ... read >
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SUNDAYS WITH JESSE
The principal had put me down for watching over Jesse. Jesse was like any other 4th grade boy except for one thing: He was profoundly autistic.
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FLICKERS OF HOPE
I know my purpose now, and that is to help. To help anyone I can because I know what it feels like when you need it and the way your heart feels when receive it. ... read >
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HAVING FAITH IN YOURSELF
"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." This quote has always seemed to describe me perfectly. All throughout my high school career I have always been the person to play it safe. ... read >
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FROM SPARK TO FLAME
When my now 19 year old daughter was in Grade 3, all of Mrs. Mathews’ students were given a small pot with a bean seed to plant. Green string beans it seems are pretty hardy and the perfect seed to use when promoting green thumbs in young children. That same plant was also a most unexpected source of understanding and insight for me. ... read >
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BECOMMING WHOLE AGAIN
We all have our own story filled with chapters about people and events unique to us and I will never forget where my life story took a sudden change of course and brought about my most life altering events with people I’ll never forget.
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NEVER SAY NEVER
I have been given a chance to begin again, and I will die trying to make the most of this opportunity. This is why I want to teach. It has given me a renewed sense of self worth, and I am thankful beyond words for this second chance; one that many do not receive.
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GENUINE RED RYDER 200 SHOT CARBINE ACTION AIR RIFLE
Some years ago I unwittingly start a family tradition for our Christmases. It was based on the premise that all kids deserve a toy on Christmas and that everyone is a kid at heart. ... read >
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I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GIVE UP ON MY LIFE LONG DREAM
It was an incredibly tough time in my life. A few years ago, I felt as though my world was crumbling. Everything seemed to be going wrong for me. ... read >
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IMPARTING WISDOM
My father died on December 18, 2003, when I was 12-years-old. Granted, I was not able to know my father for a big portion of my life, yet I acquired much wisdom from this great man's life and from what he had imparted to me. ... read >
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LIFE IS LOVE
Life, most people say, is fleeting. It flies right by us and we barely even notice until something horrible happens. My name is Bec and I am sixteen. August 3rd was the fourth anniversary of my mother's death. ... read >
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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
I have come a long way from riding on the back of a donkey as a child in Portugal in the 50's and 60's, where I grew up. My family was poor; in fact, I recall times when my courageous mother had to literally beg for food to feed four hungry boys. ... read >
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THE POWER OF LOVE
Raising my youngest daughter as a single parent, particularly through her teenage years, was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. Not denying that there may be other factors involved, I am convinced that my inept parenting had a significant role to play in the emotional challenges my daughter faces. ... read >
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A SIMPLE LIFE PROJECT
In 9th grade I was assigned a "Life Project." During this project we had to interview a person whom we hoped to be like later in life. Then we had to give an oral presentation to the class about how it went. I wanted to become an entertainment lawyer. ... read >
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AS LONG AS MABLE'S ABLE
My Grandma was "strong like an ox," just like her own mother who lived to be 90. Referring to herself, she'd say, "As long as Mable's able." That pretty much summed up her philosophy on life. ... read >
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YES WE CAN
I am Amadu Lamrana Bah, from Sierra Leone, and am 20 years old. I suffered a lot during the civil war in my country Sierra Leone. ... read >
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DELIVERING SMILES
My name is Destinee. I am 11 years old. I have a friend name Shelby. Shelby and I have set up a small organization with my Mom. It is called Delivering Smiles. ... read >
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RUNNING THE EMOTIONAL DISTANCE
When my cancer treatment concluded, I set a personal goal to run 10 marathons by my brother's 10th anniversary in 2009, hoping to raise $40,000 for the Boys & Girls Club and the Stephen O'Grady Scholarship Foundation to honor what should be his 40th birthday. Never underestimate what we can do in the name of love, or with the proper inspiration. ... read >
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HOW STRONG IS STRONG?
So, do you want to hear about one tough cookie? Her name is Sylvia, and we are close friends. Despite the age difference (she is about 70 and I am 12) we are two friends that will not ever be broken up. That's why I was so scared when she got cancer. ... read >
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ENCOURAGEMENT AND BELIEVING
I just watched Track Coach and it brought back memories of when I was in grade 6. I joined the cross country running club. I hated running but joined because my friends were in the club. I worked hard and no matter how hard I trained, I constantly came in dead last. ... read >
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IMPOSSIBLE THINGS
During a particularly bad moment I emailed my old high school religion teacher that I was in the middle of a crisis of faith and didn't really know how to carry on. His response was simple but so profound, "to believe in the face of it all - that is faith. Impossible things happen every day."
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MR. AND MRS. POSITIVE
I have two really good friends, Nancy and Richard. They both believe in the power of positive thinking. However, though their personalities are similar, they are totally different in other areas of their lives. The biggest differences are their childhood, career choices, and lifestyles. ... read >
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