Introduction

As I walked into the room, all eyes were on me.  “Look, there’s a waste of God given talent.  She’s smart but she’s a teenage mother. Her father is an alcoholic.  Her mother doesn’t have any formal education. She was raised in a dysfunctional environment.  She doesn’t have a chance to succeed.  She’s won’t even graduate from high school. She will never be good enough for anything.”  These are the sounds of the voices I hear echoing throughout the room. 

As I find my seat, I can see the elder women rolling their eyes, turning up their noses and turning their heads as if I was a disgrace to society. 

I think to myself, they don’t know me.  They don’t know anything about me, other than what they see and hear.  They don’t know that I was sexually abused by friends and family at the early age of five.   They don’t know about my physical fights for individuality.  They don’t know about the challenges of what goes on at home stays at home no matter how painful.  They don’t know about the pain I’ve endured from trusting supposedly elder confidants. They don’t know about the family wars that I’ve witnessed and endured. 

I’m not going to say anything to them but I will prove them wrong.  I know that I can be anything I want to be.  My mother told me, “it’s not what people call you but it’s what you answer to.”    My father always told me, “I was special” and “chosen”.

People didn’t know that behind all the pain, there was a dreamer as well as a survivor.  In my mind, I was focused on the future- my dreams.  People fail to realize when you have a burning desire to succeed there’s no devil in hell that can stop you.  Yes, sometimes you might be delayed getting there but never denied.  I lived to fulfill my dreams - to prove people wrong. 

Background

Although my life was full of challenges, I remained hopeful.  I knew what I wanted out of life.  I knew I wanted to live the “American Dream.” 

No matter how tough times were, I knew that the Lord had His hands on my life.  Sometimes, I would cry myself to sleep because of the pain I felt inside because of things that were going on all around me.  I was able to survive because the Lord would always comfort me through a dream/vision which kept me rooted and grounded in Him.  He kept me hopeful of a better tomorrow.  Eventually, I began to reflect on past victories that I had seen the Lord perform on my behalf.  That’s how I survived without losing my mind.  

One of my aha moments, was when the mayor of the city came to speak to our class.   I don’t remember his whole speech but I remember his instruction to our class.   He instructed us “to learn all we can and always strive for excellence no matter what society hands us.”  He stated that “society will sometimes take your dignity and even your life but no matter how hard they try they can not take the lessons you’ve learned.”  Therefore at the end of the day, “they can’t take you wisdom and knowledge.”  He challenged us to “learn baby learn.” 

With the Lord’s protection and guidance, I was able to rise above my circumstances.  I   graduated from Stillman College with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.  I hold a Master of Science in Business Administration. I’ve worked for the Department of Defense as a Contractor for over 10 years.  Now, I own my own business - McRae’s Foods.

Professional issue

As a small business owner of McRae’s Foods who specializes in producing gourmet BBQ Sauces.  Some of our greatest challenges were finding a copacker/producer to produce our products with specific requirements, competition and lack of opportunities extended to us. 

First of all, we were very persistent, we knew exactly what we wanted and continued to search until we procured a copacker who would produce of products with the specific requirements that we presented.

Secondly, competition in our food category - condiments are extremely high. Not only does your product have to be better than your competition.  You must be able to prove that your product is better within 15 seconds or less.   And if you receive a large order, you must be able to produce the volume requested in a timely manner.

Lastly, lack of opportunities extended to us seems to be our greatest challenge of all.   We haven’t figured this one out yet however we believe when some well known celebrity endorses our products we will get the recognition and respect we need in our industry.

Personal issue

Although I have a busy life like most professionals, personally my greatest challenge is lack of balance.  It is difficult to joggle a full time job, business, family, friends, church and other activities. I have a weekly planner but my business seems to always absorb any and all extra time I have.

I really do love my friends, but it just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to break away and spend time with them as I should.

I’m trying to build McRae’s Foods where it will become a family brand – a household name such as Kraft.  It is very difficult when you are at a very critical phase of the business to break away and enjoy leisure.

While building McRae’s Foods, I lost a very dear friend of ten years.  He was very inspiring, nurturing, encouraging and supportive.  I could share anything with him.  He knew my likes and dislikes.  I was devastated because he had invested so much in me as well as the business.  He felt as though everything was more important than nurturing our friendship.  I never felt that way but with him owning a well established business himself which took a great deal of hard work and dedication from him.  I thought he would understand the commitment and dedication you must give to any business that’s relatively new. 

I was crushed.  I cried, I cried and cried.  I apologize time after time but I could not turn back the hand of time.  When someone walks out your life and you are responsible you begin to take a look at what’s important in your life and re-prioritize in some cases.