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Behind the Desk
It hasn't always been this way. In fact, I was once in the same situation as many of the people right here in RWA. In 1994, I lost my apartment to a very selfish and inconsiderate landlord, which caused my son and me to be homeless and to live in a shelter for a year. It was a very challenging time in my life. During the time of staying in the shelter, I lost my job and had to go on welfare. The majority of our things were either stolen or destroyed in storage. I was robbed at gunpoint with my son in my arms and, ultimately, I lost the person who meant the most to me; I lost my mother to AIDS. I had so many different feelings going on inside of me -- anger, fear, hate and confusion -- but at the same time, I was numb. I was so depressed, I cried every single day. I felt as if I'd let my son down as a mother and didn't think I had anything to live for. I wouldn't talk to anybody and hardly ever came out of my SRO room. No matter what, I kept praying -- even though sometimes I got fed up with that, too. One day, I decided to take a look at the sheets that the case managers and/or job developers would slip under the door. I went upstairs to check it out and joined the Train and Gain (TAG) Program. There I met some truly wonderful people who helped me out tremendously. I went to every workshop, learned job skills and took computer classes. Not long after I obtained an apartment and started working with a job development team who worked just as hard as I did to get me a job. It was a good job, also, I might add. I have been on my way ever since. I share my experience with you to let you know that I know it's not easy, but you can't give up. By the grace of God I haven't been addicted to any hard drugs or alcohol, but I do know what it feels like to be frustrated, to feel hopeless and to be homeless. I know what it's like to live some place you'd rather not be, to do things you'd rather not do (like returning back on time for curfew), to feel as if you don't have things under control. Honestly, you don't. None of us do -- there is a higher power that is in control of everything. We must surrender, take things one day at a time and know that, when times get hard, "This, too, shall pass." -- Lashallah Bowser |
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It
may seem as though I've lived a pleasant, picture-perfect life, because I sit behind a desk
as a case manager and always have a smile to offer.
