My mother’s steadfast advocacy helped me. I proved that I was worthy of vocational training. Because of this, I had the opportunity to go for a vocational evaluation. I live in the dorms. I experience what life would be like on campus. This happens if I am granted the opportunity for vocational training that my parents and I so wanted for me. I excelled and overcame barriers by doing extremely well. Still, I wish I had taken the opportunity to improve aspects of my experiences for the long term.

Vocational evaluation happened no other way than what I had expected. I was partnered with a classmate from the high school I attended. This made the experience easier for me while I was in residential treatment. After an intensive battery of testing, I had the chance to stay another week. I shadowed in a variety of classes, including architectural drafting and retail. Lastly, I attended what was then known as general office clerk. I intended to pursue training as a general office clerk. I would choose vocational training if I had the opportunity.

I returned home until I would be granted admission for vocational training. During this time, I went to day services. I even began transitional employment at our auspice agency in the front office of their former workforce development center. This allowed me to start to home in on the skills that I desired to be educated on. I was blessed to meet many of the affiliate’s employees. They ranged from the Vice-President of Affiliate Operations to the other office staff that trained me. I had set the bar high. As a result, I had the privilege of being granted extra opportunities that were not otherwise granted.

Eventually I was offered admission to the vocational program at the state vocational rehabilitation facility. The plan was to attend and come home every other weekend. Many barriers in the post-secondary experience are often challenging. An on-site clinic made them easier by providing psychiatric services. It also offered laboratory and pharmacological services. If services were not available at the center, they would connect you to them in the community.

I was also blessed to meet some amazing people that even today I am connected to them via social media. I had one roommate for a week. Then he was granted a room just across the hall. My incoming roommate was very alike to me. We did not always understand each other effectively. There was even doubt about them. Still, we eventually settled our differences. Later on, we became friends on social media. We even came to terms with things that we had believed back then.

I wished that I was more socially inclined. Still, I was not willing to bend to others. I did not learn the lay of the collegiate social norms. Thus, things did not happen in the way that I liked. My love for Linkin Park helped me form a close bond with some people there. This connection made life just as fun. We also learned how to navigate the public transportation system and use intercity passenger rail to go home on breaks. My sister lived a few blocks away from the station in her community. Because of this, I would ride it home on the weekends. I proved my independence by riding the bus into the downtown. I then walked many times to the train station. Even on the weekends, I returned back to campus. This is something that would not be dreamed of in today’s world.

In the classroom, I had excelled in academics and met all my goals that I had set for myself there. The skills taught there help me even today in my current line of work. This continued support is why I flourish now. I always remember my days in the flood city. It is a place that I continue to hold near and dear to my heart. I will never forget the opportunity that I had. I graduated with honors and even had been awarded some awards for my work. It is by far one of my proudest accomplishments.