Page 32 - February 2020
P. 32
FIELD NOTES
Meet Elizabeth
Robert Hall, EH5
the program does not focus on housing Elizabeth is 34 years old and has faced
procurement—having a good job is a necessary disability all of her life. She was diagnosed
step towards self-sufficiency— and self-sufficiency with global developmental delays at the age of
is a necessary step towards fiscal responsibility— 3, struggled to keep up in Kindergarten and
which was a necessary step for me to take to be First Grade and was homeschooled through
a big boy! her high school years.
As an ex-felon. I faced hurdles and restrictions Her long-term goal is “independent living.”
while still on post-prison supervision. I accepted Yet, despite all of the cards in the deck stacked
those restrictions because I was the one that against her, she has persevered. She has a talent
made them necessary; I created those hurdles for music, having worked her way through
for myself. But now that I am house hunting I the Suzuki method for violin and viola – she
really do feel like an adult because the difficulty has recently picked up the cello. She loves
of finding something affordable is not restricted animals and has showed rabbits at 4-H, raised
to those that have a background in the justice chinchillas, and volunteered at a county
system. My friend could not afford a house on her humane society. She is also a member of a local
own and she has no criminal background at all. walking club, with over 500 km to her credit.
So yeah, I am a big boy now. I am equal Her latest adventure is Toastmasters. She
with all those who are out buying a house. My joined Professionally Speaking Toastmasters
husband wants to be involved in this process as in September 2019 and has filled 8 different
much as he can be—which means he is the voice roles so far. She was recently elected as the
of reason when I get wracked with anxiety about Sergeant-at-Arms to fill a vacancy. In six short
our future debt. months, she has achieved her Level 1 award in
Pathways! At a recent club meeting, she was
“Is this what you mean when you say I’m an singled out for the club’s weekly Inspiration
adult now? Anxiety prone about debt?” Award which goes to a member who serves in
an exemplary manner.
“Yeah,” he says, “kinda sucks, doesn’t it?” Way to go Elizabeth! It just goes to show
what you can do when you put your mind to it!
“Can I go back to being a debt free non-adult?”
“Nope! You’ve let Pandora out of the box.
No turning back now—but I’m here with you as
much as I can be.”
“That helps. Two people in debt are poorer
than one.”
“Now you’re talking!”
32 ONE COMMUNITY
