Deprived or Alive

“I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.” -Oprah Winfrey
Do not listen to the stereotypes, you know better.
Just because there are barriers does not give you an excuse to quit. Everyone has barriers, some bigger than others. The goal of life is to fight until you achieve what you what. Nothing comes easy in life. Many use living in Jane and Finch as an excuse to underachieve. They use excuses like “who would want to hire anyone from Jane and Finch?”. This should not be an excuse, but instead a source of motivation. Use everything you’ve learned from the community to your advantage. Know that in order to achieve something you must work for it. Dedication and commitment can take you a long way. It is as simple as taking responsibility for yourself. Know that your future is in your hands and nobody else’s. It is therefore your responsibility. In summary, as Oprah said, do not think of the negative – do not let it stop you from doing what you want. Instead, let it motivate you to take action and get what you deserve.