It was believed by my mother and some teachers that I was a gifted student. I remember that my proudest moment in school was when I earned the honor of Female Student of the Quarter and was also #1 out of 800 students the Autumn of my freshman year at Morton East High School in Cicero, Illinois.
This early gift, however, was squandered when in February 1994 I was placed under the care of the state Department of Children and Family Services. This experience was the first exercise in unfairness and being held back that I received. Part of this unfairness was when I was informed that “You can’t be adopted because you are a teenager.” This is devastating for a young person who only craves love and understanding.
I fell behind and was kept there in high school. For example, I was placed in remedial history courses when even the teacher thought that I should have been in Honors or Advanced Placement courses. However, if I was given the chance the state would lose special education funding. The only comment I got to my protestations was, “You can’t handle that.” To which I said, “Give me a chance and I will show you that I can.” I never got the chance and suffered mightily because I was held back in school.
I have graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. degree in Political Science. The next step in my educational journey is the MOS Master Certification+ program at Microtrain Technologies, Inc.
I have been criticized lacking direction and being unsure. I am very ambitious: wanting to work in the financial sector. I aim to be be employed by the US Department of the Treasury.
Religious Evolution
I am a Catholic who was confirmed on Pentecost Sunday 2001.I originally converted because of the Church's handling of the sex abuse scandal.. After much research I decided to convert and be a Southern Baptist. I was baptized in January 2007 and became a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in February 2007.
Recently, I decided to return to my Catholic roots becasue I realized that this is where my home was.
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Little Ms. "Not Quite Perfect" at Maryville
As a youth at Maryville Academy I developed a strong independent streak and started telling them how I felt about things that were happening. This trait did not endear me to the staff of “Family Educators” who were charged with teaching me discipline and values.
I remember being a small, underweight, and unhealthy young lady. I got beaten up by the other girls in the group home and assaulted by one of the staff. They kept telling me “They are a bad influence on you,” referring to the military people I was talking to at school. I had developed a friendship with the Marine recruiter that came to the school.
Needless to say, I never joined the Corps because I saw better opportunities for me. I was almost admitted to the United States Naval Academy twice. However, I decided to enter the Air Force.
I had conversations with a recruiter and joined ROTC. I walked into the Unit and impressed the Commandant of Cadets with how much I already knew and my enthusiasm for serving that he wrote a recommendation to the Recruiting board to clear my record so I could finish the enlistment process.
This was not the problem at Maryville. Their problem was that they wanted me to do things only their way. One day, upon returning from training in my Class “B” blues they wanted me to complete my chore, doing dishes. I asked them to let me change out of my uniform because I was not supposed to do house work in my uniform. “I do not care what the rules are,” they said, “just do the dishes.” I protested, “I can’t, I must change out of my uniform.” I was changing at this time. They proceeded under their rules to give me two instructions and I eventually earned a negative consequence for apparently refusing to do a chore that I did after I changed. I protested again, “This is not fair. I did the chore.” They did not care they said, “Your commanding will not know if you do your chores in your uniform.” They did not understand that I knew and that is what mattered. Integrity is “doing what is right even when no one else is looking.”
I raised questions about their systems and rules because they insisted on trying to stop me from talking to people. I cited the first amendment verbatim and they had no answer.
Another “not quite perfect” act was that I tried to care for my younger brother and they did not want to allow me the chance to have contact because they did not want me influencing him.
Struggling Student
It has been an uphill battle since I started college because I was not prepared for the challenge and had no one who was willing to help me get prepared. I transferred five times and changed degree intentions three times before settling down and completing my degree.
I have finished my BA in Political Science at DePaul University after having an uphill battle since starting there. I have recently graduated (November 2007). I am researching the educational options mentioned earlier and will begin the application process to enter in the Fall term of 2011.
Military Ambitions
My first exposure to the military was when I spoke to a Marine recruiter in high school. I thought I wanted to be a marine, but after researching it more thoroughly I discovered that this would be difficult at best and impossible at worst. I also spoke with Navy recruiters and actually took a physical, which I failed because of an eye condition.
I also applied for the Naval Academy twice and earned a candidacy both times. I however did not make it to the next stage because my academics were not strong enough. During this time I was also asking questions about the Army, though not seriously thinking of joining.
Finally, after researching the Air Force for two years I spoke with a recruiter with serious intent to join. while I was in the application process for enlistment in to Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
I joined Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 195 as a cadet. This step was taken in furtherance of the goal. After initial examination of my medical records, however, I was denied the first time because of being on psychotropic drugs in the past. I also thought that the eye condition was a reaction to stress and having not slept the night before the first exam. I was granted another chance when the Commandant of Cadets at the ROTC unit wrote a recommendation. The record was also cleared of any mention of the prior medical treatment. However, when I took the second exam the eye condition was confirmed and I was denied enlistment. If I had been allowed to enlist I would have wanted to be a personnel specialist. I finished up the year as a cadet and then began life as a civilian.
While I was a cadet I held three corps positions: publications representative, supply representative, and military ball representative. I also joined Arnold Air Society and Mach 4, two student organizations. In Arnold Air Society I attained the rank of Cadet First Lieutenant and was the Public Affairs Officer for the Scobee Squadron.
I joined several military related organizations: Air Force Association, Association of Air Force Missileers, and the Reserve Officer Association. My membership in the Reserve Officer Association expired because I am no longer a cadet.
I was a special student in the ROTC unit through Spring 2003 and still do a great deal for the Air Force. I assist the ROTC unit during orientation and the recruiters during the air show. As a reward for this I earned a Certificate of Appreciation from Air Force Recruiting Service. I have taken care of the eye condition and might qualify to enter the Air Force.
Political Story
My first experience came as an intern in the Chicago office of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin. In this capacity I sorted mail, worked with constituent case files, and assisted the staff. I worked closely with the Press secretary, chiefly organizing press clips, and the veterans affairs staffer.
Next step was to work for a campaign. I volunteered for Paul Vallas for Governor in 2000. I maintained the fund raising database. I did not volunteer at all in 2002, however, I volunteered for two campaigns in 2004. First, I volunteered for John Edwards for President and Dan Hynes for U.S. Senate. I traveled to Davenport, IA and Milwaukee, WI to volunteer for Edwards. I volunteered for John Kerry for a short time but stopped because I did not believe in Mr. Kerry. I also attempted to work for the Democratic National Committee as a fund raiser, but did not beilieve in the candidate or the platform so I had to leave this position.
Despite volunteering for all these Democrats in the past I am a conservative. I had originally planned to be attending school and living in South Carolina in 2008 so that I could volunteer for the reelection campaign of Sen. Lindsey O. Graham.
Currently I am an intern for The Heartland Institute. I have donated to the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute.
I was formerly a member of the DePaul College Republicans and completed an internship with the Cook County Republican Party. Before I was a member of the College Republicans I was a member of the DePaul College Democrats. Through my former membership in the College Democrats I was able to travel to Boston for the Convention in 2004.
I am a moderate conservative with a strong independent streak. This leads me to believe that every life is sacred, the family is the foundation of society, homeland and national security are paramount, and that common sense gun control measures can be taken with out infringing on the rights of law abiding citizens.
