AllEe Black

When I joined the RISE class, I was freshly new to Springfield. I was 2 weeks shy from moving here with my daughter and we had just embarked on an exciting yet terrifying journey into an unknown world. My life at the time felt like it was spinning out of control, and I knew I needed to take action to get it back on track. I took a leap of faith, even though I only knew a handful or so people living here, and moved from Oklahoma. I decided to participate in these classes so that I could figure out how to navigate this new world I had found myself in. These classes have provided invaluable support for me and my daughter. They have taught me new skills, given me friends when I had none, and provided food for us when I didn’t know how I could. Having a mentor to lean on for resources during this transition has also been so beneficial along this journey. Before moving here and taking these classes, I was not the type of person who could one: ask for help, and two: talk openly about her problems. I’ve learned that being open and vulnerable to those around you doesn’t make you weak or a moocher. Life isn’t a linear journey and sometimes you are at a lower point and that’s ok. I feel better prepared for my lower points now that I can see where my weaknesses are and I’ve learned how to either improve them by asking for assistance or leaning on the new skills I’ve learned. 

The past months have also taught me that sometimes life can punch you in the face and knock you down pretty hard. It’s how you choose to react to this that matters. My “why” in life has always been my daughter. She is the reason I am the person I am today and the number one reason I took that initial leap of faith to make our lives better. Each day I strive to be the best version of myself I can be. To put out the goodness she deserves to see and receive in this world in hopes that she will one day do the same for those around her. I am actively making these choices to be and do better and although my daughter may always be my “why”, I am the driving force. All along I thought my only strength lies in the fact that I was doing things for her but in reality, I WAS DOING THINGS FOR ME…I CAN DO THINGS. Terrifying, humbling, humiliating, heartbreaking, often liberating and fun things. In the end, RISE classes taught me that I am worth putting in the effort for. That I deserve a good life and all the things that it encompasses, even if I feel like it’s a hard journey to get to and want to give up. I know now how to take the necessary steps to achieve all these “good life goals” I set for myself and I regained the confidence to keep going after them.