Overcoming obstacles…going above and beyond!
Solving every day problems can be tough, but sometimes there are bigger challenges in life than we can imagine! I don’t know about you, but doing the same things over and over starts to get old. So I want to take this opportunity to challenge you to take a chance and to do something new and exciting that impacts other people’s life. Making a difference in your community, in your schools, and with your Family is the most rewarding thing in the world, and I can tell you from my experience, there is nothing like helping other people with their struggles. I truly love being a part of Proud to Wait because we do many fun things; such as BBQ’s, Tournaments, Outings and Sporting events but truthfully what I love the most, is helping families and impacting youth in a positive way day in and day out!
I, like most people, have taken things for granted in my life and I want to encourage those of you reading this to recognize that if you are blessed with a lot, then you ultimately have the most to give back! I live in a town with considerable poverty and a large homeless population, so I often see in-your-face issues. I know it’s hard for someone who has always had a place to live to understand what it’s like to wake up every morning with a long list of needs but I think it’s worth noting that doing something for someone else is so extremely rewarding that it will leave you with memories you will never forget. Of course it’s only to be expected that people who don’t know how difficult life is with out the basics, can some times take things for granted, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything we can to help others and make a difference in our world.
So, I want to ask you to go the extra mile and help someone out who can use an extra hand! Start now, with the simple stuff like letting someone important to you know how much you love them or by get involved in helping someone in need, or even looking into becoming a volunteer with Proud to Wait or maybe even just going out and buying a burger for someone who needs a bite to eat! Just try to remember that despite all of your own issues that you’re dealing with, and the obstacles that you are trying to overcome, it’s always going to be worth going above and beyond the call of duty for someone else! You never know what 2010 holds, so live life to the fullest and make wise choices.
PTW GOES TO WASHINGTON!!!
This past week PTW had the opportunity to attend the National Abstinence Education Grantees Conference in Washington D.C. As Director of PTW I attended with one of our instructors Alfredo “Chito” Rosado from the Sacramento office. We gathered together with hundreds of other Abstinence programs from all over the United States for 3 days of encouragement and information pertaining to educating America’s youth about the dangers of pre-marital sex. The Conference was outstanding. We heard from some of the greatest speakers on the subject of teaching young people.
It was also our first time in Washington DC so we got a chance to visit some of the incredible sites and monuments.
Right now in Washington teaching Abstinence to America’s youth is coming under fire. It seems like many in government and many in the media are giving up on young people, saying that it is pointless to teach sexual abstinence to teens because they are “incapable” of being abstinent. Talk about not knowing the facts!! Do they not know that over 55% of American teenagers are living abstinent? Do they not believe that young people have enough self control that when educated about the risks of premarital sex that they can make good decisions to abstain? Do they think American youth are just animals? Hmmm… things that make you go hmmm! I wish those who make the laws in this land could meet some of our great youth leaders at Proud to Wait. So many of you have taken a stand to do something positive with your life rather than risk your goals and dreams by engaging in early sexual behavior. You are exercising self control and discipline to obtain your goals and dreams. It is not impossible it just takes motivation and education.
Well we here at PTW believe in young people! That is why we do what we do. In the words of our favorite clock wearin street poet Flavor Flav, “Don’t Believe The Hype!” Not everyone is doing it! Sex is not ever casual. So many STD’s are spread even with the use of condoms. There are risks involved and we believe you should know what they are before you engage in early sexual activity. This past week 2 articles were written, one appearing in the Washington Post, about 2 major studies that were done proving that Abstinence Education is having a positive effect on our young people. So please don’t believe the hype, don’t believe what you see on TV and Movies having pre marital sex is a big deal and there are many risks involved. We believe you can make good decisions about your future and practice self control. 
One Love.
Sergio Limon
Project Director
I’ve been thinking lately about my life and how I got to where I am today. I was definitely not a perfect teenager! But as I think about how I “turned out,” I am reminded of some key friendships I had and how I think they helped me navigate through high school and focus on my future.
I had a friend who was so smart – she was going to college and everyone knew she’d “be somebody someday.” She even got to go out of the country on a summer long research trip with an elite group of people while she was in high school. Being friends with her made me want to get good grades and look into various colleges that I could attend.
I had another friend who genuinely loved others. This guy didn’t go to any of the weekend parties, but everyone knew who he was – and they knew they could talk to him if they ever needed to. He was “cool” without having to go to parties, drink, do drugs, or have sex in order to fit in with the popular crowd. Being friends with him made me want to be a better friend – to be real in my relationships and not try to be the most popular person by doing all the things I thought it took to become popular (having the right boyfriend, going to the right parties, and getting drunk on the weekends).
By observing these friends I was able to make some choices to change my behavior and become the person I wanted to be. I didn’t let my environment or past choices decide who I would become. Like I said, I had made plenty of mistakes – but I chose to allow my past to remain in the past. I chose to focus on my future goals of going to college and pursuing my dreams. I knew I wanted to do something with my life that had meaning.
I went to a 4 year college and then on to graduate school. I am in my third year of marriage to a wonderful man who loves me and cares deeply about others. And I am currently a manager at a non-profit organization that believes in youth and encourages them to focus on their future goals and make choices that will help them reach those goals. I believe in youth and their ability to be the best that they can be. I believe in our organization and the truth we teach young people to help them make positive choices for their lives.
I realize that I still have a lot of life to live, but reflecting back on how we got to where we are can make us thankful for the people we’ve had in our lives. It can make us thankful for choices we’ve made that have helped us get to where we are, or it can help us decide to make better choices now and live differently so that our future will be more of what we want it to be.
So what about you? What do you want your future to look like? Are you making choices that will help you reach those goals and dreams? Let us know!
Carrie Harrell
