My Poem : Why?

Hello friends so long since I've been able to post. Life is hectic dealing with Health issues is tough. And worst when you have limitations.  But I wanted to share this with you.. I am working on a Masters in Social Work. And I am already tired of the same question " WHYYYYYY".

So After much though this is what I came up  with My Poem

 My Poem  Why?

Constantly I am asked why?

To that question I reply

Because I opened up my eyes 

I saw my surroundings, the disparities and the inequalities

I saw broken streets and broken dreams

Graffiti walls and dead end streets

I saw dead dogs lying on the sidewalk,

 As well as dead people walking, no sparkle left in their eyes, No dreams to bring them back to life

And No one talking, walk past me like I'm invisible, treat me like I am a stranger or a criminal
No neighborhood watch No community, No unity

Broken houses, Broken windows, Broken families, Broken dreams

I saw children lacking things and mothers struggling to make ends meet

I saw absent fathers...and boys aimlessly wandering with no super hero to guide them, no loving words or encouragement, no little league games, no hope, no faith 

A constant journey through the jail system going in and out like if it’s was a fast food restaurant

I saw the youth walking aimlessly with No guidance, No future or hope for a tomorrow, No education, No job and No College diploma.

I saw young people almost children making babies with no tomorrow

I saw old men with tired arms, with broken backs and sleepless eyes 

I see the sorrow in their eyes,  

I saw the grandmas with gray hair working night and day waiting on the bus to take them home ,

From lush gardens and clean streets, back into communities filled with broken walls and broken dreams, with broken hearts and much despair... With No help coming from anywhere...

Every day I'm asked why?

To that I simply reply... Because I opened up my eyes and saw the sorrow in their eyes. 

one step at a time... to empowerment

Summer is officially here for me .... but I really can't enjoy it... I am battling pain and more pain while trying to focus on making myself a better person. One of the things that I have learned is how to empower individuals. But sometimes all the support in the world won't help a person, once they have decided that they can't achieve something. Once you allowed the thought of failure to enter your heart and mind, there is no stoping it. So remember that one of the important factors needed in success is to Believe in yourself and to dream. I always tell people to "DREAM",but with your eyes wide opened. Since I was a child one of my coping mechanism was day dreaming... I used to imagine going to far of lands and meeting new people, well at that time they were not people they were characters. But it helped me when I was faced with difficult situations I kept my eye on the prize and focused on what I had dreamed about. My pastor said that a Dream is first born in your unconscious and comes to your sub conscious in the form of a thought. It is then transformed into a desire when it enters your heart, and you must write it down on paper to manifest it into reality. Once you have written it down , post it somewhere where you can see it daily as use it as a reminder of what is ahead. That's is exactly what I have been doing since I was a child, but most important I kept believing in myself and I never allowed the thought of defeat enter me mind.
So keep that in mind.., Believe and Dream, but with your eyes wide open and make them into a reality!

xoxoxox Liz

Long Time No blog!!

Greetings from Sunny California, I do apologize for taking so long to post , but I have been super busy. here is my recap.. health wise , I am doing better than a year ago, but I am not better than 3 years ago. On that note I am praying and I believe that God will heal me, I have a wonderful Dr. and he is doing his best to help me. I am resting and sleeping as much as possible. On the school part, I am so excited to say that my spring semester is 2 weeks away from ending and I am doing great.  My extra curricular activities have all gone throughout the door,, since my body is not well . So instead I read and read and focus on my studying. Words of Wisdom... no matter how bad your situation is, have faith and do your best to overcome even the worst situations. Look for the light at  the end of the tunnel, there is always one. I am sick and can't use my body as I would love to, but that still hasn't keep me from doing my school work. yes it takes longer to do something , what I can do in one day has to be spread out into a week. But I don't give up and I don't look at the negatives, I try to stay focus and look at whats ahead. In my weakest moments I find strength that is within  me, I am resilient and an over comer and if I can achieve this, so can you.

Spring is here and so are the cherry Blossoms... I love them

lets make some Lemonade

Hello =) I apologize for the delay, but I have been super busy with my health issues as well as with school. Let me tell you, school is awesome, but its a lot of work, a lot of reading. I just got my first paper back and I am semi-pleased to say that I got an 89 (Yes I know.. why couldn't it had been a 90) I mean its only 1 point away right, yeah I know... but I will take my 89 and fly with it. For being the first paper I have written in two years, I will take it. But my next one will be a 100. Taking into account that  I am dealing with physical ailments, I will take my grade and be grateful. God only knows how I was feeling when I was working on this paper. So I should be satisfied and not be so critical about myself, If I was 100% in good health, I would have a reason why to be upset with myself. But being in pain and having to take medications and having to take constant breaks does take a toll on my creativity.

So it's been a month since school started, but I have been reading and prepping for class since December. So I have been on study mode for two months. I am grateful the readings interesting and that my boyfriend lend me his iPad. That was the best thing that he could have done for me. It made the reading less stressful on my body. Since I can read while I am in bed and resting and I don't have to carry heavy textbooks.

so as an official grad student, I can tell you I am loving it, if I was 100 healthy it would be so much better. But when life throws me Lemons, I can either cry or make some Lemonade. I pray that God gives me the strength to get through this, on my worst days I remember that I worked with this pain to earn a  living so I better be willing to do the same to earn my education.

Until I write again, please take care of yourself and enjoy life, we only get one so we better make it count.


When I am weary and in pain, I look up to the heavens and I call upon his name, He hears my cry and comforts me... and then I realize that  I can do Anything in the name of Jesus who strengthens me!!!


xoxo
Liz

$igning my Life Away

Everyday we hear that the government has grants to help you go back to school. What they don't say is that the grants available are only for First time college students working on their First Bachelors Degree. So with that said I have been praying and praying to God reminding him that if he opened that door, he also needs to provide the finances. As you can imagine by the title of this post I had to sign some papers and Thankfully I was offered some Financial Aid, unfortunately it is all in the type of a Loan. I told God I am taking it, but He needs to help me find away to not have to get any more loans. So I will make sure I do my best so that I can apply to some scholarships. I am scheduled and enrolled and ready to start on January 9, and in case you were wondering I already have Homework.


Words to remember: God opens doors for you, but you have to knock first and be willing to walk thru the open door. 

What does that mean, well that God answers prayers but we need to act and show him what we want. He won't send you a blessing unless you are willing to do your part. So remember its a partnership and you put your 100% and God puts his 100%.
xoxoxo
Liz

Greetings and Welcome

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline

Hello and Welcome I am so glad to be able to start this New Blog and I hope that it reaches many. I am about a month away from starting my first year of Grad school and it is exciting. I want to Thank God for the opportunity that he has given me. When I call upon the name of his son Jesus and asked for the doors to be opened to continue my education. I was not expecting such great doors to be opened. But that is exactly how God works, he gives you more than what you asked. I want to tell you a bit about me, I am  a first generation everything...First generation High School graduate, First Generation College Student, First Generation College Graduate, First Generation Grad Student and with the Help of GOD I will be a First Generation Grad School Graduate with a Masters Degree and If the Lord wills it, I will become a First generation Law School Graduate.  As you can see I have great reasons to be very grateful.  I was born in El Salvador to a 22 year old father and a 27 year old mother. I was raised the first years of my life with my grandmother and I had a loving uncle who was my first teacher. He passed away at an early age back in 2005, but I will forever be grateful to him for teaching me to love learning. He would be so proud of me, and would be so excited to know that I will be attending USC and working on a Masters Degree. But I am sure he knows, I am sure Jesus has informed them that I asked for a miracle and he answered me. I decided to start this new blog to journal my new journey. In hopes to inspire and provide support for Latinas who might be heading in my same direction. I know its a tough road and we have to face many obstacles, sacrifices have to be made but I have my eyes set on Graduation and I just keep looking forward and Pray that God gives me strenght, wisdom and intelligence to succeed.  In the following entries I will tell you a bit about myself and I hope that my story inspires you to keep your dreams alive and to look for your success. 

12/15/2011 - Today's words to remember 

 with God on your side you can achieve ANYTHING,  just have Faith and Trust in him and in yourself.

xoxox  =D