I would be turning 5 years old in December, but before school was to begin that August, I drove my mother crazy all summer long, begging her to let me go to school. My older brother and sister were going to school, and I wanted to go with them. So at 4 years and 9 months, I entered first grade in a country school, 1-½ miles from my home. All I can remember was my sheer excitement.

My father purchased a box of eight fat crayons for me to take to school. My father was special to me, so in my eyes this purchase was quite valuable. I made it through my first week; but the second week, a schoolmate, who sat in front of me, complained to the teacher that someone had stolen her big box of 50 crayons. The teacher accused me of stealing and was going to send me to the principal. I come from a very religious, proud Spanish family with very strong values. But when she made the remark, "You come from a background of thieves, so it doesn’t surprise me that you took the crayons." I was very confused and hurt.

This teacher demanded I admit that I had taken the crayons, and apologize to my schoolmate. I remember the strength my father had instilled in our family about values, dignity and to trust in God. I walked up to my teacher and as she turned to face my class, I planted 4 kicks to her shins as hard as I could. As you can imagine, I was placed in the Principal’s car and driven home. I was not allowed to start school until the following year when I was 5 years old. The janitor had heard about the incident, as had the whole school. He told the teacher that he had put the crayons in my desk mistakenly. From that day forward, my love for school was gone because of one teacher who judged me according to my Spanish last name.

In third grade our eyes were checked in school, and my parents were told I needed glasses. I was fitted for glasses and punished everyday by my teacher for not wearing them. I told her they hurt, but she made me put them on. I couldn’t see, so I couldn’t read at all, then she put me in a special-Ed reading class. Finally the teacher wrote a note to my father. He was upset when I showed him my eyelashes were so long I could not open or close my eyes with my glasses on. Perhaps these and many other obstacles in my life fueled my determination to achieve, but not through school.

I would never say that school isn’t necessary, but for me it was not a positive experience. I did just what was required of me to get through high school. I couldn’t wait to start my real world education.

My real world education was not so easy, and I have made a thousand mistakes. I could write a whole book on all the roadblocks and challenges I’ve faced and overcome, (from discrimination to lack of education to bad choices, sickness, death). Through those times of difficulty is when I learned the most. My hardest times have been the most rewarding. I’ve never blamed anyone for the choices I’ve made. I don’t blame anyone for their inability to understand that my heritage is a privilege to me, not something I need to be ashamed of. I believe I have something special that everyone wants. I have a fire in my belly, and a very strong desire to achieve. But I wasn’t born with it, I have worked very hard to learn from books, people, papers, videos and everyone around me. I always imagine all obstacles as a temporary game I have to conquer. But my most precious gift of all-- I’ve had a tremendous amount of faith. I always reach for God’s hand when I know my next journey may be a challenging one. I always feel His presence next to me because I want to. I know that no one can ever take that away.

Today, I am a very successful mother, wife and businesswoman through the support of my faith in God. My successes include owning grocery stores, owning my own training company, a professional speaker and trainer, and managing a health spa. I have learned some very tough lessons and have had some extremely successful moments. If I were to teach anyone anything it would be to believe in yourself. All the times someone told me I would never amount to much helped fuel my desire to achieve even more. I have always felt-- if there is no door, I’ll find a window. Life is a game we all experience, and we all choose our own destiny. God provided me with many mentors in my life, but at my lowest times were the times I wasn’t listening.

My greatest accomplishments are that I have never forgotten where I came from and how my faith in God has helped me appreciate the really important things in life: my faith, my wonderful family, my God, and never forgetting that each of us needs to lend a helping hand.

I reach out to you today and ask that you keep your faith and determination, and God will be there for you!!! God Bless and keep you safe --- Dedra Johanneson