Change..... A Constant Occurance

Change may be identified with better and more but there are points when change may consist of less and a situation may become worse. Change is what allow us to be made. Many changes that I have been through has granted me the opportunity to become who I am today. Through all the many changes I have had to adjust to, the Lord has been right there to comfort me, Guide me, and to Protect me even when I was unaware of it. Only God Knows where I would be without him....and I do not want to even ponder about it cause I just might loose my mind but I am grateful for it all. Sometimes we think we know how our lives are gonna turn out but that is not so. Those things and people we daydream about during the day may not be the things we get or the person we spend the rest of out lives with believe me I KNOW! Anyway, me being who I am, once thought that I had it all figured out when my curiousity led me to do some research that later led me to make one of the toughest decisions in my life. No need to go into details just tryna let ya'll know that there is someone behind the scenes with all the answers and it's not Ms. Cleo either. Take some time to holla at him, get to know him and his will for your life...Be Blessed

Peace and Love, Ms. Frank

!!! Loving What I Do: Mentoing Rocks !!!

Being a mentor is one of the highlights of my life. The opportunity given to me by position as a Youth Counselor with The Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) in Bennettsville, SC , is greatly appreciated. The children I serve are in grades six through nine and are all precious. The children in this program are learning be open minded as they are introduced to new foods and activities. YEP, starting only a year ago, is designed to serve 36 children and follows the students for three years. The program provides students with academic enrichment, career development,assitance in making healthy food choices, and behavior modification.

Of Course I enjoy it all but I must say that getting to know the children indivivually is the greatest part of all. Learning how the kids react in certain situations allows me better assist them. Knowing that the program is designed to create long- term and or permanent postitive behavior, there are better days than others. Not only do I give of myself at YEp but there are children that I spend time with individually, talk to on the phone, and even email from time to time. As a mentor, I help any way that I can without getting in the way of parents and even helping the parents at times.

Parents are sometimes out of tune with their kids and me being a little closer to their age are able to either identify the issues that need to be addressed and sometimes relate to the emotions and thoughts the children may be experiencing.

I simply love young people especially when they are teachable. Many of them are only looking for just what I've got- Love and Care. Mentoring Rocks and it Matters.... Find out how you can be a mentor, there is always a child in need of one. You can make a difference but please make sure that you are Positive, Alert, Careful, and Honest. Children appreciate the truth even if it hurts and remember to never make promises you can't keep!

Become A Mentor and Make a Difference

February 7th: A Day of Educating and Empowering People:MIllions Effected, Millions More Unaware!

Today is a day that does not recieve ENOUGH publicity although it is a day that everyone should take into consideration. Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! Educating yourself about the epidemic is a neccessity. Not only yourself but your family members, friends and especially your mate.

Millions have been diagnosed with the life threatening disease and there are millions more that are not aware of their status. If you feel that you are responsible enough to make the decision to have sexual intercourse than you should be able to the take the intiative to get tested. Don't get me wrong, I am not encouraging or advising anyone to engage in sexual intercourse but even if you are inactive you can still be tested.

If you are not active because of religious reasons, God has laid the foundation and has left the Bible as a guide for us to follow. Not trying to preach to you, but sex is the consimation of marriage and the bed of marriage is undefiled. Meaning when you are married sex is an act that God intends to take place. God instructs his people to be abstinent (sexually inactive) until marriage. Premarital sex also know to christians as fornication or sexual immorality is considered sinful within the christian faith. Fornication can occur in more than one way. Just because you are not having intercourse with someone does not mean that you have not fornicated. Fornication can take place in both the hearts and minds of people.

For my young saved folk out there pressure from people are menial compared to the wrath of God- Love him and put him first. You are normal!!!- you will have the desire to have sex but remember God's command. We ask of him so much and sometime are not willing to give at all.- Stay strong you are not alone! -Everyone is not doing it and if they are they will have to answer to God for themselves as you will to. For the Young And Old- I urge you to GET TESTED, Know your status and live carefully. HIV/AIDS does not have a certain look.

The most beautiful female or even the most handsome male you know can be infected. So don't just go on their looks and think that someone is exempt form exposure. Also people, do not just take a person's word even if they are your childhood friend, next door neighbor, or first love! : For the Fellas- Women who say they have been tested or that they have never been with anyone else-They should get tested.

And Ladies men who use the excuse that they are afraid of needles or that they don't have any health insurance to get tested, don't fall for it. Another line is " You're the only one- Don't even let that make you feel that because you are supposedly the only one that you are okay without using any protection. There are free testing sites located all around the country- in every state!.If someone is too lazy to go get tested than maybe they are not the one to give your body to. Excuses should not be acepted when it comes to this mattter.

I am very Passionate about the education of people- my community all over. So whether you are Black, White, Hispanic, Inidain etc.... - PLEASE GET TESTED!!!!!- DON'T BE AFRAID TO KNOW BE AFRAID OF NOT KNOWING. THIS IS YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE! FOR MORE INFO ABOUT FREE TESTING SITES IN YOUR AREA click this link http://www.hivtest.org/

Happy MLK Day Celebrating Legacy: Remembering a Man's Works and Words!!

Today, for many may just be another day off of school and or work or just a day that the federal government chooses to shut its offices down. Unfortunately not everyone can enjoy those privelges. While almost all schools have been closed for the day students at Northeastern Technical College in Cheraw, South Carolina have to attend school despite it being a national holiday. Today is a day to celebrate the life and legacy and that of a man of Greatness and Humbleness. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is known as the Father of the modern civil rights movement.Through his work and words Dr. King influenced so many people across the nation. Dr. King's works include coodorinating marches, protests, and making sure that people had what they needed to make it - food, clothing, encouraging words, and most of all a Leader!

In 1967, less than a year before his tragic assassination, Dr. King spoke at the Tenth Anniversary Convention of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (S. C. L. C.) addressing the audience with a speech titled" Where Do We Go From Here". In this speech, Dr. King states "This is where we are..... Where do we go from here?." He continues with advice for the people that will empower them as they strive make a difference saying " We must massively assert our dignity and worth. We must stand up admidst a system that still oppresses us and develop unassailable and majestic sense of values. We must no longer be ashamed of being black........" The quote that you have just read is more than words that were spoken to an audience of African Americans at a critical time in American history. Those same words can be empowering for people of ALL nationalities, races, creeds and ages, TODAY. The quote simply is saying that as a whole(we the people) must stand together knowing and being proud of who we are to fight(remember Dr. King's nonviolence policy!) the injustices of the system that has been set before us. Here Dr. King urged the people to assert (which means to state or express postively and to defend or maintain one's rights. Dignity is the quality or state of being worthy of esteem or respect) their dignity. Although according to our founding documents we were all granted rights as citizens of the America, they were not always protected and people across the nation are still fighting for rights today. Agreeing with Dr. King, I say let us all Positively express and defend our right to be respected!. Dr. king goes on to say " Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort and the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the forces of justice........ Let us be dissatisfied until the day when nobody will shout "White Power- when nobody will shout "Black Power"- but everyone will talk about God's power and human power".....These words encouraged people to end the sick racism ad discrimination not just in society but in their hearts and minds. He wanted the people to work beyond feelings and emotions and even warned them about the rough roads ahead of them by stating

"the road ahead will not be smooth........ Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future." Audacious is defined as fearlessly; often recklessly daring; bold.As well as unrestrained by convention or propriety. Dr. King powerfully spoke these words into the lives of the many people who attended this event on the sixteenth day of August in the year 1967. What was a powerful message then, is still a powerful message NOW. If you are wondering how a speech given over fourty years ago can possibly be essential to the era we are living in now then read the words again or you may even want to read the entire speech. The message simply speaks of change and it encourages those who are agents of change to continue on fighting to get through barriers as they exhibit pride in who they are.

So as you relax during this day off of school and or work take the time to reflect on the things in your community, wherever you may be in the world and think about how you can positively make a difference in the lives of the people around you. Some of ou may already be involved in your communty- I most certainly do applaud you. Nothing is too small- Just do your best. It may be taking time out with some neighborhood children who are in need of mentoring , running errands for the elderly and disabled, reading to the blind or illiterate, or even doing some home repairs for free. Whatever you may choose to do- Do it with a great attitude!

~~Marion Wright Edelman said it best" You really can change the world, if you care enough"

~~~Peace and Love to ALL- Happy MLK Day~~~

A Special Thanks to the King Estate and Indiana University for allowing the public to view the words of the Late- Great, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

!! Making Dreamz Come True !!

I must say that Life sometimes hit you with sorrow that seems unbareable and you may feel like you will never be given a chance to stand up again and make it past the pain, but I beg the differ. Even through what we may see as tragedies there is always something working out and someone working behind the scenes on our behalf. I know that my secret helper is no secret at all..... He is the Creater Of All!!! There are many special people that I love dearly that have helped me along the way from my family, teachers, friends, coworkers, professors and other RCC faculty. I can't list them all but you will hear about them as time goes on. Making Dreams come true is not only about my own but that of others as well. The dreams of others are very essential to all that I do. If there is anyway I can help I most definietely will. I am here to display my thoughts on various issues that I believe needs to be addressed. I am passionate about the youth and the path they may take.Life is more than materialistic items but extends to the influence and change that you make while you are here that truly matters. Here with positive, motivating, and informative words I am here for you!! The people that I will be fearturing are people that share my passion and in some way, shape, or form has made an impact on my life.

Exploring the world, I am ready to make Dreamz Come True!