Project Hugs and Hope
Donation protected
In August of 2009, at the age of 23, I did something that most
statisticians said I shouldn't be able to do. I, the product of a
single parent household, a high school drop out with a GED, a person
who, by all accounts, should fail, managed to be accepted into
college. While it was a late age to start, an especially late age to
enter the dormitory life after having spent several years in the
workforce, I went into this new scary world with as much energy and
passion as I could. I managed to surpass my peers who still could
vibrantly remember high school. I became friends with professors and
learned about philosophers, authors, and areas of higher academic
knowledge that I had never given any thought to previously. I was in
love, and college loved me back. I knew that I had found an ability
to help others, and my desire was to become an educator.
Unfortunately, my dream was short lived. After a succession of grand mal seizures, which left me weak and suppressed my capacity to retain information, I was finally diagnosed with epilepsy in November of 2011. As my performance sank, so did my relations with my professors. My once proud GPA of 3.75 deteriorated and I was left with making a decision that I never wanted to. I had to leave college and rejoin the workforce. I left college behind me, and I have never looked back.
Being back in the workforce has been a struggle. I have lost every job I've gained because of repeated absences due to petite mal and break through seizures. I've not managed to hold down any employment long enough to qualify for unemployment or FMLA, and since my seizures are stress induced, and despite a supply of anti-anxiety medication, I cannot overcome the fear of losing a job as soon as I have it. This leads to more seizures, which leads to me losing another job, which leads me into a vicious and unending cycle of pain and repetition.
Today, September 9th, I had another seizure. Shortly after recovering from it, I made a decision. I presently live in the small town of Klamath Falls, OR and am surrounded by a lot of poverty and very little industry. We are not near any major highways and are isolated in many regards. The chances to find jobs here are very small, but the strong people here manage to survive with their heads held high and their integrity intact. They are an inspiration to me, and help me make it through each day. I have found my home here, and I want to give back.
The desire that me to wanting to be an educator was a desire to help people. I wanted to teach children, to help push them to a brighter future, to give them hope. Unfortunately that dream will likely never take place. I can, however, help people in a different way. I want to open a toy store. A toy store is something that Klamath Falls lacks, and it is something that would brighten the lives of many people in this humble, unassuming town. It is a place that could provide jobs to individuals, like myself, that need alternative work situations, and would provide a vitally needed product. It is a place that could work with local charities and the poor children across the city to improve lives, put smiles on the faces of children and parents alike, and money in their pockets. I want to bring about hope, understanding, change, community outreach, and kindness, and to fulfill a need in what, for many, is a bleak existence.
The universe saw fit to take me to college and allow me to learn. Something gave me the hope and desire to help others and be a benefit to the world around me. Epilepsy may have robbed me of the first goal, but it will never rob me of my heart. I define my heart, and you can help make my heart's dream come to fruition. So please, if you can, join me in my desire. Help make Hugs and Hope a reality.
Unfortunately, my dream was short lived. After a succession of grand mal seizures, which left me weak and suppressed my capacity to retain information, I was finally diagnosed with epilepsy in November of 2011. As my performance sank, so did my relations with my professors. My once proud GPA of 3.75 deteriorated and I was left with making a decision that I never wanted to. I had to leave college and rejoin the workforce. I left college behind me, and I have never looked back.
Being back in the workforce has been a struggle. I have lost every job I've gained because of repeated absences due to petite mal and break through seizures. I've not managed to hold down any employment long enough to qualify for unemployment or FMLA, and since my seizures are stress induced, and despite a supply of anti-anxiety medication, I cannot overcome the fear of losing a job as soon as I have it. This leads to more seizures, which leads to me losing another job, which leads me into a vicious and unending cycle of pain and repetition.
Today, September 9th, I had another seizure. Shortly after recovering from it, I made a decision. I presently live in the small town of Klamath Falls, OR and am surrounded by a lot of poverty and very little industry. We are not near any major highways and are isolated in many regards. The chances to find jobs here are very small, but the strong people here manage to survive with their heads held high and their integrity intact. They are an inspiration to me, and help me make it through each day. I have found my home here, and I want to give back.
The desire that me to wanting to be an educator was a desire to help people. I wanted to teach children, to help push them to a brighter future, to give them hope. Unfortunately that dream will likely never take place. I can, however, help people in a different way. I want to open a toy store. A toy store is something that Klamath Falls lacks, and it is something that would brighten the lives of many people in this humble, unassuming town. It is a place that could provide jobs to individuals, like myself, that need alternative work situations, and would provide a vitally needed product. It is a place that could work with local charities and the poor children across the city to improve lives, put smiles on the faces of children and parents alike, and money in their pockets. I want to bring about hope, understanding, change, community outreach, and kindness, and to fulfill a need in what, for many, is a bleak existence.
The universe saw fit to take me to college and allow me to learn. Something gave me the hope and desire to help others and be a benefit to the world around me. Epilepsy may have robbed me of the first goal, but it will never rob me of my heart. I define my heart, and you can help make my heart's dream come to fruition. So please, if you can, join me in my desire. Help make Hugs and Hope a reality.
Organizer
Jonathan Matthews
Organizer
Klamath Falls, OR