Tag: One Life Project

ONCE JUDGED, NOW SUCCESSFUL

Published on by Aimee EddyLeave a comment

In school I was told I’d end up relying on welfare. Teachers thought I would never succeed in school or life. Throughout elementary school I believed they were right. Then in high school I worked hard to prove them wrong and succeeded. I was proud of myself for going to a two-year college, but because of my learning disability and mental illness, I couldn’t go on to a four-year college. For years I saw myself as a failure for becoming just a cashier in a grocery store. Until now.

Seven years ago, at a one day conference sponsored by Pennwriter’s, a national writing group, I learned to post regularly on online groups that pertain to my book. I was planning my memoir at that time and started posting positive messages on a Facebook mental health group. Alex Kovarvic contacted me to write blog posts for his nonprofit The National Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Taskforce. Then I went from writing blog posts to helping with events and interviewing volunteers. Back then I felt nervous about the tasks I was given. I wasn’t very comfortable with the new steps I was taking, but I was excited when the Taskforce awarded me the Saving Lives award.

I stayed with the Taskforce as it evolved into One Life Project (OLP). I moved from being an assistant to now a leader. I have been supporting events and helping with educational workbooks. I’m a co-host for OLP’s podcast, The Lifeline, and I’m advocating for mental illness. I’m continuing to learn my role as a leader and I’m excelling at it.

April 15 Alex picked up my husband and me up at our home and drove us five hours to Albany, New York, for an online conference for OLP. We spent the night in a hotel and the next day Alex drove us to OLP’s office in Massachusetts. In the office Alex recorded me giving a twenty-minute speech. He told me I did an excellent job. Then he presented me with five awards. He took pictures of me holding each award.

I was presented with the presidential Lifetime Achievement award signed by Joe Biden. I also received a letter from the president and a coin with an eagle on it.

Presidential Lifetime Achievement award signed by Joe Biden
Lifetime Achievement coin
Letter Signed by Joe Biden

My next award was a proclamation from the mayor of Buffalo, NY, declaring February 21 “Aimee Eddy Day.”

Proclamation From Buffalo, NY’s mayor

Then I received The Guardian of Hope award from OLP.

One Life’s Guardian of Hope award

Next, I got Colors United Allyship award from New York City.

Colors United Allyship award

Finally, I was presented with the Community Health Heroes award from Massachusetts.

Community Health Heroes award

In school I dreamed of growing up and becoming successful, and now I have made that dream come true. The best award I get from doing work for OLP is helping others. I’m working to educate young people about mental illness so they can understand what this illness is and how to get help. When I was young, I didn’t know what was wrong with me or how to ask for help, so I struggled alone. I want to make sure no one else struggles like I did.

I wouldn’t be the executive president of education for OLP if Alex didn’t believe in me. He had faith in my abilities to be a leader even when I didn’t. It’s a new experience for me. I have always stayed in the background, following others and not stepping up or out. In school staying behind the scenes, not speaking, and following others were safe. If I was neither seen or heard, I could avoid some harassment. I no longer am hiding. I’m growing and becoming stronger. I’m leading a team of volunteers and even doing things I once hid from.

I’m proud of the work I am doing and how I have grown. Each award is a symbol of how I have risen up from my past and succeeded. They are also symbols of how proud I am to serve young people by educating them and advocating for them. I wish there had been a nonprofit like this when I was young. It’s important to me to help as many young people as possible.

I no longer think of myself as a failure for not attending a four-year college. The work I am doing now is very rewarding. I even love my job as a cashier. I love working with people. I touch people each day by smiling and giving them someone to talk to. You don’t need a big degree to be successful. By overcoming challenges in your life, growing as a person, and being determined you can be successful.

 I came home from our trip and hung my awards up on a wall in my home. I call it my wall of fame. Each time I look at those awards I see how much I have overcome and how far I have come. This helps me dance in the light of recovery.

MY HOLIDAY

Published on by Aimee EddyLeave a comment

When I was bullied as a child, I did a lot of daydreaming to escape. I daydreamed of good things and bad things. I imagined getting hurt or dying so I would get attention or wouldn’t have to go to school. I also imagined winning awards, becoming a famous author, and my bullies cheering for me. I wanted people to see that I was capable of great things and realize they were wrong about me. I never thought that my childhood dreams would come true, until now.

If you have been following my blog, you read that in April I will be awarded a Lifetime Service Award from the president of the United States for my work for One Life Project. Last month I learned I will also be receiving a proclamation from the mayor of Buffalo, New York, declaring February 21, “Aimee Eddy Day”. The proclamation is a long letter which talks about my work with One Life and my book, Escape to the Garage: Family Love Overcomes Bullying. Alex, the founder of One Life Project, read it to me and sent me pictures of it. Alex also received a proclamation declaring February 22 “Alexander Kovarovic Day.”

“Next year we’ll have to meet in Buffalo on February 21 and celebrate our holidays at midnight,” Alex said.

I wiped tears of joy from my eyes. “That would be awesome. We definitely have to do that.”

I imagined as a child becoming an adult standing before a crowd of people giving a speech and receiving an award. Afterwards, Donna and other bullies shook my hand and apologized for how they treated me. Well, this dream is coming true. I will be giving a speech in New York City and receiving the president’s award, the proclamation, and other awards in front of lots of people. My bullies won’t be there to apologize, but I will be flying high.

My friend Amy said, “Wouldn’t it be great if on your holiday you went to Buffalo and they had a parade for you?”

I smiled. “I would wave out the window of a car at all my fans and tell them to buy my book.”

When I was a child, teachers said that I couldn’t read, and they pushed me from grade to grade. They thought because my learning disability would prevent me from accomplishing anything important in my life. One of my teachers predicted I would grow up to be on welfare. Some of those teachers shop at the grocery store I have worked at for going on thirty years. I make sure to tell them about my awards. They treat me totally differently now. One told me she always knew I was a hard worker. In school she accused me of cheating on a test when I earned an “A.”

Who would have ever thought I would have my own holiday? It’s not a major holiday requiring schools, post offices and banks to be closed, but it’s my day. On that day I went to work and told my customers about it. They were excited and some said they need to get my autograph. I told my co-workers too.

One co-worker said, “Since it’s Aimee Eddy Day, we should close the store down and all go celebrate.”

A customer spoke up. “Wait until after I pay for my groceries.”

I said, “Yes and we all get paid to have the day off.”

Unfortunately, the managers would not have agreed to closing the store and paying us to be off. After work my husband suggested we go out to eat to celebrate my holiday. So, we went to an Asian buffet. I love Asian food, but my husband doesn’t. Luckily the buffet had American food too.

I’m doing what God wants me to do. I’m helping youth who are struggling like I did as a young person. When I was a kid, we didn’t talk about mental illness. There were no programs in schools to educate children and not much out there to educate parents about mental illness. I’m helping change that with One Life Project. I am helping to put together workbooks that schools, young people, and parents can use. I’m helping with developing programs that I will take part in teaching about mental illness and coping techniques. I’m part of a podcast that talks about mental illness, and I help pass out information at events. I’m doing God’s work. I’m serving the youth of our country.

Dreams do come true. Just because you have a disability or mental illness, it doesn’t mean that you can’t succeed in life. If you work hard enough and believe in your dream, you can make anything happen. Maybe you can have a holiday of your own too. Life might take you down different paths, but don’t give up on your dreams.

I can’t wait until next month when I give my speech and receive my awards. I just need to find wall space to hang up my awards. I work hard to keep making my dreams come true, and that holds me up in the light of recovery.

FROM BEHIND THE SHADOWS

Published on by Aimee Eddy5 Comments

All my life I have been the type of person to hide in the shadows. In school I stayed in the shadows to try and hide from the bullying. That protection followed me into college and adulthood. If I went unseen, I was safe from making a fool out of myself or getting put down. I have always followed what others told me to do and never could see myself as a leader. Until now.

I went through school trying very hard to be unseen and hidden. If I was put in a group of people to do an assignment, I kept my mouth shut and let others make the decisions. In college I took a class in TV news. We were broken into groups and were given the task of putting together a commercial. One person took the role as leader of the group and each of us was given the task of brainstorming ideas. I listened to the others’ ideas and only gave my ideas when I was asked. I was too scared and shy to speak up on my own. Even in college away from the kids from previous schools I was afraid of being put down. I became comfortable in the shadows.

Even when I started working at the grocery store where I continue to work, I stayed in the shadows. When I first started there, I barely talked. In time I learned to open up to fellow employees, but I found it impossible to take the initiative to talk to managers or to speak up during a training session. Sitting quietly with my lips tightly closed has always been the safest way for me.

I was going through breast cancer when Alex Kovarovic asked me to write for his nonprofit National Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Taskforce. I was excited. In time I went from writing blog posts to interviewing volunteers and helping plan events. I felt totally out of my league, but I stayed with Alex and the nonprofit as it changed into One Life Project. With One Life Project I became president’s assistant in education and research and worked alongside, Alex. I started by researching topics for the website and realized I was pretty good at research.

When Alex moved me up to a higher position where I was going to work alongside another woman to lead a group of volunteers, I got scared. The girl often planned online meetings and let me know of them at the last minute. I sat in the meetings silently as she talked, but I noticed she was disorganized and kept getting distracted by people in the background. I was afraid to step out of the shadows to speak up and take charge.

But Alex didn’t give up on me; he moved me up to Executive President of Educational Outreach and Advocacy and then to Senior Executive President of Education. Now I’m making hard decisions like letting go of people who are not doing their share. Alex is continuing to guide me in my role as a leader. I’m stepping out of the shadows to excel in my position. I’m learning to speak up and step out of my comfort zone. It’s scary and exciting. I’m proud of how far I have come and of myself for stepping out of the shadows.

I work with my team of volunteers to put together workbooks for schools and universities. I have traveled to events and handed out educational material, and I was even interviewed with Alex for Spectrum News. I’m learning different skills and how to educate young people about mental illness. The work I do means a lot to me because I was once a young person with mental illness. I had no one to teach me what mental illness was and how to ask for help. Now I’m part of a organization that gives young people opportunities to learn and ways to ask for help.

In April I will be traveling to New York City for a conference and awards ceremony. I will be giving a speech at the conference and receiving awards at the ceremony. One award I know I’m getting is from the President of the United States. It is the Lifetime Achievement award. I can’t wait to be honored with this award and possibly others.

You may feel like you’ll never rise out of the darkness or from behind the shadows to succeed, but that is untrue. You can do a lot with your life, despite mental illness or bullying. You don’t have to settle for being at the bottom. Use the determination deep down inside you to rise and reach beyond your safe place. You can become successful. Mental illness and bullying are only challenges you must overcome to make your dreams become possible. Don’t be afraid to try something new.

Stepping out of the shadows has helped me rise above the hole into the light of success.

HELPING THE YOUTH

Published on by Aimee EddyLeave a comment

When I was in school, I struggled with mental illness, and I had no idea what was wrong with me. I kept my struggle to myself because I feared no one would understand the horrible feelings that plagued me. I fought deep sadness, inner pain, and racing thoughts in silence. When I went to school, in the seventies and eighties mental illness wasn’t talked about in or out of school.

Sad woman silhouette sitting alone on white background

My struggles followed me into college and adulthood. Now I work for One Life Project to help children find help and to educate them, so they don’t have to struggle alone.

I started with One Life Project in 2018 when it was called National Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Taskforce, and I have watched it grow as it changed into One Life Project (OLP). With One Life Project I believe I’m reaching out and touching one life at a time and making a difference. OLP helps make the world a kinder place where we advocate for, educate, and support youth with their mental health in the hopes to prevent suicide in our youth and to end the stigma surrounding mental health.

I started writing blog posts in 2018 for the Taskforce. I also helped interview volunteers and set up events. I was totally confused and nervous about my role of setting up events. Then when the Taskforce became One Life Project I took on new roles first as a director, then as the president’s assistant, and now as executive president of educational outreach and advocacy. As I take on my new role, I am learning to become a leader and advocate. I learned that I’m good at doing research, and I’m learning how to put projects together such as workbooks for college students. So far, I’ve helped edit a self-esteem workbook and I’m currently helping the president put together a sexual assault workbook. The next workbook I will be working on is deals with teen bullying, a subject I have become well acquainted with.

I believe strongly in the work One Life is doing, the projects I’m working on, and the subjects I’m researching. I believe if we can educate our youth early and support them then they can reach recovery from mental illness before they reach their adulthood. No child should struggle in silence and feel afraid to ask for help. No child should feel there is no help and the only way to receive relief is by taking his or her life. No parent should be confused with what is going on with their child or not knowing how to help their child. Working with OLP I’m helping to make sure that our youth and their parents are educated.

The workbooks and the educational materials I’m taking part in is going to help thousands of our youth with some very rough times in their lives. I’m proud to be a part of this. I don’t want to see our teens, our college students, and our young adults struggle like I did. Each youth is important and deserves to be educated, supported, and advocated for.

If mental health was talked about and taught when I was young, I may have never struggled into my adulthood or kept my struggles quiet. I would have been able to turn to my parents without fear, and they would have known how to help me. Instead, I learned after hitting rock bottom and trying to take my life from a pamphlet I found at college that I had an illness. After that I took a year off from college and got the help I needed. It has taken me into my adult years to reach recovery.

I’m still learning my role as executive president of educational outreach and advocacy, but I’m excited to grow as a leader and advocate. OLP is also helping me grow as a person and learn new things about myself. Check out One Life Project at https://www.projectonelife.org/

Working for One Life Project and believing in their mission is helping me grow into a better person and stand proudly in the light of recovery.