Authentically You Magazine January 2017 | Page 27

i know you are probably thinking ; what obstacles did you face ? I can tell you first hand , I ’ ve faced the same obstacles many others are suffering through every day . I overcame the heartbreak of my parent ’ s divorce at a young age , I overcame the challenges of not being accepted by my peers because of religious beliefs , the challenge of raising two kids by myself with little to no help from their biological father and I overcame an emotionally abusive relationship . I bounced back ! I was resilient , and managed to withstand and recover quickly from difficult conditions . I was able to become successful again after all the setbacks I faced . I ’ m a firm believer that obstacles are the building block of character not the assassins of spirits .
Despite those obstacles , I am now the mother of three amazing kids : Javion , Shaelyn and Lawrin and the wife to an amazing husband , Jabari . I walk around with a huge smile and an amazing inner­peace because I realize now every obstacle helped mold me into a wonderful mother , wife and overcomer . I enjoy spending time with my family , singing , and creating art and crafts .
I launched DreamSetters Foundation in an attempt to help girls and young women ages 14­18 in rural areas of South Carolina map out the visions and goals of their life through vision board planning , to help them become the successful women they were created to be , to live by the motto of : Little Girls with Dreams become Women with Visions . Women who dare to dream , dare to succeed despite the obstacles they face . I want to show them how I dared to dream and succeed .
I believe we need more people to encourage our young ladies not to give up on their dreams . We need more people encouraging teenage mothers they still have a life beyond becoming a mother at a young age . I look at my hometown and see so much potential , in so many young women , however they lack guidance , they lack resources and they lack role models . They lack role models who will not pass judgment on their lifestyle but will assist in bettering their future and motivate them to set realistic visions and goals for their future .
Even though I have not completed my college degree , I was able to land a high paying management position . I want to show them that it is possible to overcome the obstacles of being a single mother and it is possible to accomplish all of your life visions and goals by sharing all of the resources and knowledge that I have learned along the way . Authentically You Magazine 27