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   Growing up in a house where our mother was a strong, dominant figure it took us by surprise when at the young age of 38 years old she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. I was the oldest of the girls so at the tender age of 11, I became the “mother” of the house during her hospital stays. I baked bread, washed the clothes, ironed, cooked and took care of my 5 brothers and sisters. We experienced things that many kids would never imagine going through. The day I graduated from high school, I ran away from home so I would be able to walk across the stage and get my diploma.  She was sick again and had forbid me to go. I had missed 32 days in my senior year because she kept me home but I still managed to graduate by working hard to make up the work I had missed. No one was there to see me graduate but I have to tell you, I couldn’t have been prouder than that moment that I walked across that stage. In high school, I was referred to as a “greaser” which meant the ratted hair and wings on my eyeliner. I will always remember my older brother who was a manager at the time saying to me “I’d never hire you looking like that”.  It really bothered me that someone could value me based on appearance versus what I was really about. Needless to say these life lessons and challenges helped develop me into who I am today. We can spend our whole lives living in the past or we can take what we learn from what happens to us and build on the future. In my life I have become a strong independent woman who takes the saying “never judge a book by its cover” seriously. I value people for who they are and encourage them to be all they can be. While in the past I might have made a bad decision, learned a lesson or faced a challenge, I’ve used it to move forward. Some of the most successful people today will have a story or two to share of either having failed at something or challenges they had to work hard to overcome. Our lives will be filled with many lessons and challenges but use them to look to the future and not remain in the past. It can only help to make you a better person. Use your life lessons and challenges to help not only yourself but others as well. Each and everyone of us are unique individuals who bring our own special qualities into this world. Be proud of that. There is only one “you”.