How have you reached Higher Ground?

[Rebecca Benston]

In the spirit of the holiday season and in anticipation of finishing my book, Reaching Higher Ground, I would like to ask the members of the group to share ways in which they feel they have reached their own personal Higher Ground? How have you improved over time? What struggles have you endured? How did you conquer your demons? Share it here!

[Angela R. Robinson]

For me to share my life's struggles with all of you is going to be difficult. First, the most important event that happened to me was that I was a serious drug addict for over twenty-five years of my life. My first priority now is to stay clean and sober no matter what else happens in my life. I now have seven years clean and sober which is truly a miracle for me. I believe that my higher power has a purpose here on earth for me and part of that is to help other women with children find recovery and learn how to maintain that sobriety. Trust me it was not an easy road. That was my first step to finding my way to higher ground. You talk about low self esteem, man I had it then and still continue to battle with it. I must find something positive in my life every morning before I start my day. To start out on a negative note would be sure disaster for me. The disease of addiction is real good about showing me what is negative in my life and I must bring out the positives through my gratitude list on a daily basis. In 2004, my youngest child turned eighteen years old. I had told myself that after they were raised that I would do something different with my life just for me. Being a single mother and raising them alone was a huge struggle everyday. I wanted something better for my future than just a paycheck at the end of the week. I wanted to make my life count for something. So I decided to go back to school and enrolled in college here. By the spring of 2005, one year later, I was working in our compass testing lab where we do the entrance testing for new students. Later that fall quarter I started tutoring other students in some of the subjects that I had already taken. To me this was a big deal, to be able to help others learn what I had already learned was just so awesome and helped my self esteem grow. I was planning to graduate in june of 2006, well that did not happen when I wanted it to. I knew that I was not right mentally to graduate at that time and little did I know but so did my Instructors. I had to return once again to my therapist at mental health and do some more work on myself. This too was very hard for me because I had to change some things about myself. Change is never easy but I have heard that nothing worth doing is easy. So I went back in the fall of 2006 to finish my degree and was successful this time and graduated in june of 2007. During the course of my studies at the college I have learned so much about myself and who I am. I am still learning about who I want to become. After I graduated in June my supervisor asked me if I would like to become a professional tutor, which meant an increase in pay, but better yet it boosted my self esteem tremendously. Imagine a woman like me who has been through all that I have endured in my life journey, becoming a professional tutor. Wow what an honor, this is the beginning of a new me, a teacher of what I have learned. I am still at the community college for the moment, but I am getting ready to transfer for a bachelor degree in social work. Or should I try for teaching? My choices now are endless, and possibilities of what I can become are many.
Angi Robinson

[Rebecca Benston]

Angela, I applaud you for having the courage to share your story and for everything that you have accomplished. You are truly an inspiration to women. Keep doing what you are doing! Good to have you here.

Rebecca