Pathway to Thriving
Basic Supplies, Connection, Financial Literacy, Workforce Development
When I took the class, I was really skeptical. I really wasn't sure if I was going to finish the class, let alone graduate. Some days I didn't even want to get out of bed, but I did it, and came to class. I learned a lot and graduated. I had two surgeries, while taking the class. . I did not let my surgeries get in the way though. I put one foot in front of the other and kept going. The night of graduation, I went with a cast on and proved to myself that I could do it and more. Even though when graduation was over, I crawled up the stairs and out to my car, I still had loads of fun. Now, I call that true dedication.
I was excited to hear that we were going to have another class, so I called Meghan and told her that I could help out. Little did I know that I would be asked to help. I really went above and beyond and made 1200 index cards for our class of investigators. I put our vocabulary words on index cards so the investigators would have easy access to the words. I also put packets together that had words of thoughts, and make people smile. I have met wonderful people who have become a great friends in my life. We have had some amazing speakers, and have truly learned a lot. Thank you so much for the opportunity - Reita Colapietro , Staying Ahead Mentor
Starting a class called "Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World" seemed like the last thing I needed after losing everything n everyone important to me. I was too old n felt I had nothing to help me get ahead.
Slowly, each week I realized just how this class was just what I needed. At first, the class had me facing in reality where I was, the bottom of the well. And, we did self assessments of our resources and that was depressing. It covered financial, emotional, mental, language, and social capital, physical, spiritual, integrity and trust, motivation and persistence, relationships , and knowledge of hidden rules resources. Yeah, look at all those resources! Sadly I didn't score very well on these resources.
Through the weeks of the classes, we learned about our resources and how to work toward having higher goals, having more faith in ourselves n I saw what I needed to do and set goals.
I saw hope.
Going back to the next sessions of classes as a mentor, we were going over those resources and how excited I was when I realized my resources had improved from the bottom of the well, 1's and 2's to 4's and 5's.
You see, that class showed me what I already had within me plus how to build a new circle to help me be what I needed to be, and to find happiness once again, to be a contributing member in making this a better world.
If you have the desire to quit looking from the bottom of the well, this class can help you know how to draw from the well of resources that are so easily attainable, and have a better life.
- Novel, Staying Ahead Mentor
We have to share this beautiful poem written by one of our participants. She has followed the Pathway that Thrive 10:10 has made from Ruth's Boutique to Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin' By World and is now a Staying Ahead Mentor. She has also been certified in Mental Health First Aid. She gave us permission to share this.
Thank you, Margaret Barrios.
In a world where the wheel keeps turning slow,
And the winds of fortune rarely blow,
We rise and fall, yet still we try,
Underneath the indifferent sky.
We hustle, we push, we strive and bend,
Chasing the edges where the roads might end,
In a sea of faces, all the same,
Yet we yearn to carve out a different name.
In the silence, we whisper our dreams,
Fighting the weight of all that it seems—
To get ahead, when the world just gets by,
Like birds in the storm, we still aim to fly.
The steps may be small, the climb may be steep,
But hope is a treasure we continue to keep.
For in this life, where shadows stretch long,
We find strength in our will to belong.
So we keep on, step after step,
Seeking the light in every misstep.
In a world that’s content with just getting by,
We’ll rise with the stars, we’ll reach for the sky.
M.B.