Recently, I have been questioned and cautioned by both people who care, and those who are just curious about why I make so much about my life, public.  They warn of giving ammo to "the Haters", "Dream Killers"  or those who simply allow their own insecurities to create obstacles for those who are trying to do what they have been unsuccessful at. 
             
   I believe that our lives are testimonies. We live to tell the story of Glory.  Better yet, we are the story.  Everyone experiences both good and bad in their lives.  More commonly we are uncomfortable  with our current stage in life and ourselves.  Most times we tend to focus on the negative, on what we can improve, and what we are not doing due to procrastination, forgetfulness, stress, or just laziness.  We see our flaws as weakness,  and we don't like to talk about them.  

The reasons that we don't like talking about our flaws, or our not-so glorious moments in life is our fear of pain,  of vulnerability.  We lack the trust that all things are meant to work out for our good.  We forget that it is because of the bad that we grow.  Most importantly we forget that our imperfections make us human. 

I admit that I have been hurt deeply by those who knew the most about me.  I have also realized that these deep moments of pain,  sparked the greatest feats of triumph in my life, and have shaped the positive aspects of my character.  Those who are the most compassionate, are so because they have been hurt.  Those who are the most giving, know what it is like to not have. The best people, the best leaders ,  and the best mentors are those who are able to relate. Many times this ability  comes from an uncomfortable and ugly place, a place that was only healed by Love.  Sometimes the solution was learning to self-love, or found in external love.

  Even so, those who know and follow my story  don't want to see me in pain due to the information that I have shared while I am still in a vulnerable state.  They are cautious about the evilness of people, and don't want my spirit to be broken.  They forget that I am protected because my joy and  happiness are rooted in Love.  People can only see Love through Truth. Truth comes from being transparent and vulnerable.  Strength comes from the ability to overcome pain. 

In wrestling with this warning of the need to self protect,  I began browsing Facebook to take a break from focusing on my own life, by virtually celebrating the lives of others.  One of my Facebook friend's post, answered why  I felt that I needed to tell others everything, both good and bad,  when asked a question, even if the reason for the interview was ill-willed and maliciously noisy.  This answer was a reference to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.   It states:But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Strength comes from weakness. The strongest are those who realize that they need help, who get over their fear of failure and embrace their flaws to change them.Most times people become inspired as they find imperfections in others lives that they can relate to. Absolute Truth is Freedom, and Freedom is a state of mind. No one will look up to, or is inspired by the rich kid that has always been rich and gains more wealth from inheritance, with no concept of ever being poor. No one cares about those who appear perfect, in fact we dislike them, because something in our spirit recalls that perfection is just a facade.  Appearing to be perfect , to anyone, is overrated and unnecessary. 
 
Everything that happens in our lives has a purpose, the bad qualifies the good, and the good is the cause of Glory. 


 I pledge to always to be a truth teller, and a truth seeker, no matter what the cost.   No skeletons in my closet. 
It's a matter of Integrity.

For those who do not know, 

Second Lieutenant Emily Perez was a major factor as to why I chose to go to West Point. 
 Emily's life and legacy is so big that she manages to inspire and empower people to believe in themselves, most with out ever having a personal encounter.  
She is the epitome of a leader.  

While a cadet, she rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, which is second in charge of the Cadet Corps. Emily became the  first  African American and Hispanic Woman to hold this position. She was also Captain of the Track Team, and a Sociology major. 

Her legacy was my motivation when times became tough. It also was a reason for why I stayed as long as I did. 
While at the Academy, Cadets are frequently encouraged to research and model one's self after a successful leader.  
I adopted 2LT Emily Perez's leadership model as I  hoped to be the rock-star cadet and later officer that she was. What I took from her philosophy can be summed up in a quote by Maya Angelou  that explains that 
"People will forget what you said
People will forget what you did
But people will never forget how you made them feel."
It was also echoed by one of the greatest Soldiers that I have ever encountered .  His name is Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Burnett and his philosophy was simple,
 " You have to care that much".
 True leaders care. True leaders love to serve. They sacrifice. They endure. They overcome, and in doing so they inspire. 

Below is a poetry tribute that was created by my friend, fellow poet, and Marine, Latino A2J. 
"Love the life you live, and live the life that you have."- Poetic Change
 

The Story of Michelle Tatom- Logistics Specialist in the US Navy :



As I got to my hotel room I took a glance in the mirror and this realization came over me that I've gone off course of myself by going along with others definition of my life.

 I've let myself bullied into silence. 

There I was, with every breath suffocating and not understanding WTF was going on. 

There I was, gasping for air battling my inner self to control anger, pain, anxiety, love, tears, wickedness that I've lost sight of the teachings of my upbringing. 

I was raised to believe in the greatness of one's individuality, that I shall bow to no one but God and to not let anyone control my own destiny. So those words of Eleanor Roosevelt resonate in my mind, " You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. 
You are able to say to yourself I've lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along".

So there I was, still looking in the mirror, emotional and I felt embraced by this energy that I can't explain, but like a new found comfort and drive, I slowly  felt that knot around my throat dissolve. 

All of the things that didn't make sense, now do.   I've lost sight of what I've accomplished and lost faith in myself, the Lord and my dreams. 

Now ,that girl within me is singing to God again and asking for forgiveness that I've lost faith in him and given power to my life to mortals. 

There, [In my hotel room] I was thinking how the hell did I let my life not be my own? How is it that the written chapters of [my life] that I haven't even lived is being publicized as verified facts? 
 This I blame to absurdity and the waste of the mind. 

For the first time I laughed and realized that if I was of no significance ( to others) then why all the trouble? 

So, I shall channel the energy of my ancestors and all those who have fought, died, been beaten,  and have been humiliated so I can have the liberties I have today. With reaffirmation I've come to find in myself,  I will never give up.

"Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared. "
- Tupac Shakur


 We are all created unique, some more unique than others. I have had to learn that the key to true happiness is to not listen to the skeptics.  Listen to your heart ,but still think with your mind. Life is a balancing act between dreams and reality. I am most inspired by those who accomplish what was thought to be the impossible, people who become "Roses".  I have met many.

   One in particular, is a young Latina woman whose parents are immigrants. She was born with Cerebral Palsy. Through out her childhood there was an enormous pressure ,from both friends and family , to be like everyone else. She realized early on that she was born to be so much more.  She learned to walk in her own unique way by creating her own path, when she chose to follow her dreams, even when only she could see them.

       After graduating High School, she became the first in her family to attend Community College. After Community College, she moved on to a State University. From there, she graduated from Harvard and now works on Capitol Hill. Now, instead of people dismissing her opinion or ideas, they  pay a grand amount of money for her input.

"By keeping her dreams, [she] learned to breathe." 

Are you a Rose? or Concrete?   

  

Some days I wonder, who am I supposed to be? 

To answer this question, I used to reflect frequently on my past, as I was taught at an early age that one's previous experiences are meant to provide a gateway to one's future.

 I have also realized that looking back too often, can prevent one from moving forward.









          This photo was taken during the last months that I was a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point.  I have chosen to make this photo my first post because , to me it represents my inner dilemma while I was there , and the current transition that I am making now.  To explain, my inner dilemma was an issue of identity. While I was there, I had many people out of good intention, try to mold me into who they thought I should be. I felt many times, that my voice was silenced. My role required me to dim my light in order to conform to everyone else's idea of a leader. In this submission, I learned a great deal about myself.  I learned how to be humble, how to observe, and how to love. I realized that in order to change any situation you must change yourself. Everything is dictated by a reaction. Find the "right" way to react and you will receive the "right" response.  It was necessary for my light to be dimmed in order for this invaluable lesson to be learned.

       The other side of the inner dilemma was a yearning to be free. If you know anything about Author Toni Morrison, you would know that she writes frequently on the freedom of owning your own identity. In order to utilize all of the gifts that God has given me, I had to learn patience and timing. It just so happened that the timing to explore all of my talents began with my dismissal from the Academy. This was the gateway to my current transition.  Diamonds are only formed in an environment with unbearable pressure and extreme heat. 

        I am extremely grateful for all of my experiences, but I am most grateful for freedom.  The freedom to explore, encourage, change , to tell our stories, and to most importantly be myself. I am allowed to shine through struggle, so that you may find the strength to do the same.