It has meant a lot to have supporters follow me through this journey. I am humbled to have had the chance to speak out about issues very important to me and have learned a lot thru the research.
My hope is that I have helped someone learn to speak out on issues close to your heart and know that while your struggles may be tough, you are not alone. Subjects you may have wanted to know more about but were to afraid to ask, don’t sit and suffer in silence. In life, we are free to make choices, make wise ones.
It was surprising to me after my first article ran online to see the comments people had to share.
Thank you for your honesty in expressing yourself. I am sure I stirred the pot a bit, but no better way to get people talking.
If you would have asked me three years ago to join this panel or write for a local newspaper the answer would have been “no.” But thanks to my biggest supporter who does nothing but keep me with positive thoughts and words of encouragement, I felt compelled to rise to the occasion.
My mother, Mrs. Hilton, has been my rock this entire year.
She has listened to me laugh and cry in the same breath as I may have been frustrated.
With her living in a different state it is hard, but I strongly feel her presence and of course we talk daily. I believe we all need a word from our mother or a timeless friend and I thank the Lord every day for mine.
I feel so blessed to have a big family and, although I don’t see them every day, I know that when my article hits they pick up a newspaper and locate my opinion.
To my family thank you all and much love.
One of the best realities I will take from this experience is you can’t be so afraid to fail that you don’t at least give things a try. Just when you start to think your opinion does not matter someone walks in the room to say “I really enjoyed the last article, when is the next one coming out?”
Or to open your email and see a response from a doctor whom you have lots of respect for or from those you have come to know from all walks of life.
It has been a great experience to be able to express myself with words and it has been my pleasure to share them.
While we are all making resolutions for the New Year, mine is to encourage, and strive to make a difference.
On another note, I plan to enjoy this new, confident attitude I have acquired because I am worth it!
We all face hard times in life, but the real test is how we rebound from them.
Do yourself a favor in the upcoming New Year: Realize your self worth and get moving. Life is much too short to waste precious time waiting on something to happen so in the New Year for every “no” you hear, decide your “yes” is not far off. It’s your story and you can tell it any way you want!
In this, my final article, I would like to challenge all my reader’s to do something in 2012 that may be outside of your box.
Happy holidays and much success in the New Year.
Angel Roberson, mother and emergency room technician at Providence St. Peter Hospital for 11 years, is a member of The Olympian’s Diversity Panel. She can be reached at angelroberson30@yahoo.com.
