Change Comes from the Center

CHANGE COMES FROM THE CENTER

Change comes from the Center
It’s what powers us
It is what pushes us to become better than we were before
We have the power to change
Change people’s views of us
Change the way we live our day to day life
Change the world
No one has the power to change your destiny but you
No one can make you change
You have to believe in yourself
You have to overcome the fear of change
You have to overcome the FEAR of change
You have to believe in yourself
What I want to change may be different from what you want
But I believe I can change
Therefore I will
I will make a difference
I will be one less statistic
I will change everyone’s view of me
Because I have the power to change
Close your eyes, close your eyes, close them
Put your right hand over your chest
That’s where your change lives
In the Center

K.G.
Participant in St. Mary’s Home, Margaret’s House 
  and Women’s Learning Center

Young Mom Living in St. Mary’s Home

From a young age, I knew the world was a cold place. Everyone I loved– left me. I felt like I was the reason no one wanted me, and that the only person who would love me was me.

I never lived in one place for more than a year. I feared letting people in, because it hurt so bad when they walked out on me. Little did I know that soon, I would be responsible for someone other than myself.

At 17, I found out I was pregnant. But from the moment I was told I was having a little girl, my world went from black to gold. I remember thinking–God is giving me a second chance at life. My daughter was ME being reborn.

Almost two years ago, when I was six-months pregnant, I came to St. Mary’s Home. The staff helped me to feel safe and worked with me as I prepared for the birth of my daughter, Elise Sonia Rose who was born on June, 16, 2013.

A week after the birth of Elise, I was rushed back to the hospital. At first, the doctors thought I had pneumonia, but it turns out I had cardiomyopathy, a chronic heart disease that can be fatal.

After a week in the hospital, I was finally released along with Elise. St. Mary’s Home welcomed us home. I was put on medication, I watched my diet, and I gave up my beloved Red Bull.

The  (staff) also welcomed me and Elise with open arms. The staff was my role models. After so many years of being alone, I found my family. I looked up to them, because of their wisdom; I knew it was time to get my head back in the books.

Although my passion for school was on fire, I didn’t always show it. I skipped high school a lot. My actions soon caught up to me. While my peers were finishing high school, I was being left behind.

Once I made up my mind to really focus on school- I was accepted into another amazing St. Mary’s program– the Women’s Learning Center. I felt like I had something to prove, not only for myself, but for my daughter.

And this past June, I received my high school diploma! I couldn’t have done it without the Women’s Learning Center.

For almost two years, I have been at St. Mary’s Center. My entire life has changed. And for the first time in my life, I didn’t run away! To this day, I try not to imagine where I would be if I hadn’t stayed at St. Mary’s Center.

I was strong before, but I’m so much STRONGER now!

CHANGE really does come from The CENTER.

I had to Change MY HEART to CHANGE MY MIND.

NOW, I CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

with edits by SMC