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Mother of 7 Graduates College as Valedictorian After 10 Years - A Note From Her Daughter Helped Her Overcome Various Hurdles
Uplifting News

Mother of 7 Graduates College as Valedictorian After 10 Years - A Note From Her Daughter Helped Her Overcome Various Hurdles

Ashley Payne's college graduation was unlike any other. While the occasion is momentous for anyone, it was made all the more special for Ashley as she balanced raising 7 children, and health complications, with her studies. Not only did Ashley complete her undergraduate studies at the age of 35, but she did so as the valedictorian of her class!How One Woman Was Inspired by Her Daughter’s Post-it NotePhoto by Lisa FotiosUnfortunately, Ashley's academic career was originally sidelined when she had a pulmonary embolism at only 18 years old -- just after high school. A sudden blockage of the arteries, the condition is grave, and highly unlikely for such a young person. “I was only 18 years old, and had zero cause for blood clots, so they kept me in the ICU for two weeks. This rattled my plan significantly,” Payne told a publication.Payne was forced to focus on her health, as life continued around her. Thankfully, she recovered fully, and soon began having children. Motherhood quickly became a full time job, and further delayed her education. Payne and her husband, Joseph, focused on growing their party rental business, and on raising their children.She even began working as a doula and a birth assistant before earning an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse degree in Midwifery.However, in 2019, 10 years and 7 children later, she felt well enough to return to school, and enrolled at Keiser University. However, tragedy would strike again when she lost her mother. She referred to her mother as her "greatest cheerleader," and struggled to continue her studies through the grief. However, Payne told a local publication that words from her daughter written on a sticky note ultimately kept her going:"Aim for the moon, and if you miss, you may hit a star.""She sent me to school with a Post-It note in her tiny handwriting,” Payne said via a press release from the university. “If she can realize the vast opportunities this world has to offer, so can you,” she told the audience at her commencement speech. How Family Support Helped a Woman Graduate CollegeThe support of her growing family carried her through difficult times and encouraged her to continue her studies, even as she became pregnant with two more children during the course of her education. As she took the stage at her graduation from Keiser University, she did so as valedictorian, addressing the crowd with powerful words of encouragement. Not coincidentally, she was also the valedictorian of her high school class, over a decade prior! In her university commencement speech, she referenced the note her daughter wrote, and how much the support of her family truly helped her. She graduated as a registered nurse with a Bachelor's degree in Science and Nursing, and intends to continue her studies and obtain a Master of Science degree in Nurse-Midwifery at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.Her story is inspirational in the truest sense of the word. Despite facing seemingly insurmountable hurdles, Payne persevered. Not only did she make it through her degree, but she did so at the top of her class. Keiser University Chancellor Arthur Keiser, PhD, even beamed to a local publication: “We are incredibly proud of Ashley for being named valedictorian of her graduating class with a perfect 4.0 GPA.”How One Woman Proved the Importance of PerseverancePhoto by Goutinho De Flávio GFHer story is ultimately one of support. Whether from family or friends, encouragement from others is invaluable. The belief of those close to us can inject us with a newfound drive, confidence, and enthusiasm. Though motherhood made Ashley's studies all the more taxing, it is also what ultimately propelled her to keep going when it seemed too daunting. Her daughter, Lorelai, had no idea how powerful that one note would become. She recalled, "I can't believe the impact it has even now; I'm getting interviewed about this. I didn't know that that's what I'd be doing when I wrote this at 9 years old."We are all capable of encouraging those in our life in the way Lorelai did, and it is paramount that we do so when given the opportunity. Ashley's story is one of determination, perseverance, and familial support. As she continues on her journey towards obtaining her Master of Science degree, her story continues to inspire and motivate us all to pursue our goals relentlessly, and support those close to us doing the same. More from Goalcast:Inspired by Her Son’s Dying Wish, Woman Graduates From College in His Place With the Highest RankWoman Gives Birth to Baby Boy – Less Than 24 Hours Later, She Rushes to Graduate College With a PhD56-Year-Old Grandfather Always Dreamed of Playing College Baseball — His Dream Just Came True

8 Months Ago, He Was A 39-Year-Old DoorDash Driver - Today, He's A Pro Golfer
Uplifting News

8 Months Ago, He Was A 39-Year-Old DoorDash Driver - Today, He's A Pro Golfer

Contrary to popular belief, not all golfers are rich, and David Skinns was an example of a player who played for the love of the game for 16 years. But this summer, Skinns defied all expectations, proving hard work and perseverance can pay off no matter the odds.He worked as a bartender and food delivery driverEight months ago, 39-year-old English golfer David Skinns was working as a DoorDash delivery driver in Georgia to support his family through the coronavirus pandemic. He'd also spent time as a bartender during his 16-year career as a pro golfer. During that time, Skinns had only won one major victory and was ranked 82th on the points list just this July. But then came the Pinnacle Bank Championship in Omaha, Nebraska in August, and the Englishman defied all expectations — well, except his own.Defying expectationsAt the tournament, the last of the regular season, Skinns had one of the best golf days of his life, one-putting the last four holes to win against much-younger golfers.“It was stressful on me, and it was stressful on my family,” Skinns told Golf Digest of his improbable victory. “I always believed I could win this week."A accomplished his life-long dreamAlong with winning the tournament, Skinns leaped into the top echelon for points on the season, becoming one of just 25 players to earn an illustrious PGA Tour card.“It’s unreal. It’s been a lot of years to hear those words,” he told Golf Digest.Perseverance pays offWhen everyone doubted Skinns, probably even his own family, he didn't listen. He knew he had what it takes and in the end, he proved all the haters wrong. His story is a wonderful example of perseverance fit for a Hollywood movie and proves that hard work can pay off at any age.More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Wife Trust Instincts And Persists After Husband Goes Missing - 17 Nights Later, He's Alive
Uplifting News

Wife Trust Instincts And Persists After Husband Goes Missing - 17 Nights Later, He's Alive

For 17 nights, a fisherman's wife was worried sick for her husband who was missing in the forest. A massive rescue team searched for him night and day, until they finally found him, thankfully in good condition. Lost in the wildernessAfter avid fisherman Harry Burleigh didn't come home from a camping trip in the Toketee area of Oregon, his wife Stacy called the police.The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said the 69-year-old fisherman may have tried to walk to Twin Lakes in the Umpqua National Forest to fish before heading home.But he didn't make it back.A massive search operationSearch teams from 18 different emergency service departments and eight counties showed a tremendous amount of perseverance while out in the forest to look for Burleigh. Stacy posted updates on a Facebook group while search teams left packages of food on the trails in hopes he would find them to no avail.Then on May 16, 10 days after Burleigh went missing — searchers found a tackle box and makeshift shelter, but no missing fisherman."They left him a note and lighter and told him to make a fire and they would be back in to get him tomorrow," Stacey wrote on Facebook. "It took the team another six hours to get out. "All prayers and positive energy are needed for successfully finding Harry and the searchers getting themselves and Harry our safely TODAY!"Stacy BurleighFound at lastA week later and 18 days after the fisherman went missing, prayers were answered as rescuers found a makeshift shelter southwest of the original one, and called out for Burleigh. He responded, and was found in relatively good health. "After 17 nights in the wilderness, 69-year-old Harry Burleigh has been found alive and rescued by Search and Rescue crews who never gave up," police said in a news release. "He was found to be walking and complaining of minor pain, but was in stable condition. A Brim Aviation helicopter was utilized to hoist Burleigh from his location and transport him to a waiting Lifeflight helicopter." Burleigh was taken to hospital but returned home to his family that evening."This was the outcome we all have been looking for in this case," said Douglas County Sheriff's Sgt. Brad O'Dell in the release. "The Sheriff's Office wants to thank everyone who was involved in this mission."A region came together to save a lifeIn all, 40 rescuers searched for Burleigh — that's a tremendous effort from various communities — and it all paid off. They should all be extremely proud of themselves for persevering and saving a life.More uplifting stories:Neighbors Stay Up All Night To Protect Asian Family From Recurring Racist AttacksBoy, 7, Saves 20-Year-Old Sister From Drowning With An Instinctive Yet Critical MoveRealtor Turns Homeless Man’s Life Around After He Returns Lost $10,000 Check8-Year-Old Boy Rescues Sister From Moving Car Driven By Volatile Kidnapper

25 Perseverance Quotes for When You Feel Like Giving Up
Motivation

25 Perseverance Quotes for When You Feel Like Giving Up

Perseveranceis the ability to keep doing something in spite of all the obstacles you mayencounter on the way to achieving your goals.It’s a wordthat can be easily explained, but the ones that persevere know the hard work itimplies. The ones that don’t also know – that’s why they don’t even dare todream big.It’s hard tobe perseverant mostly because the idea of failing again scares us. Think aboutit: you set a goal, use all of your resources to achieve it, and end up losingeverything. It’s only natural to feel discouraged and want to give up no matterwhat others tell you. You blame yourself for aiming too high and from then on,you set safer goals to protect yourself from future disappointment.But all you have to change is your approach, not your ambitions. Successful people know this so they never stop looking for better ways that will help them eventually win.Teach yourchildren that failure is part of success. Allow them to experience failure in asafe environment and watch them discovering new strategies to try again. They’llthank you later.Here are 25 perseverance quotes for when you feel like giving up:Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Thomas Edison (more Thomas Edison quotes)Going on one more round, when you don’t think you can, that’s what makes all the difference in your life.SYLVESTER STALLONEFailure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. HENRY FORD (more Henry Ford quotes)Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying 'I will try again tomorrow. MARY ANNE RADMACHER Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. PELE It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. ALBERT EINSTEIN (more Albert Einstein quotes)Men fail much oftener from want of perseverance than from want of talent. WILLIAM COBBETT A failure is not always a mistake. It may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying. B.F. SKINNER Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears. GILLIAN ANDERSON The most essential factor is persistence – the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come. JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance. JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE (more Goethe quotes)We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough. HELEN KELLER (more Helen Keller quotes)Adversity, and perseverance and all these things can shape you. They can give you a value and a self-esteem that is priceless. SCOTT HAMILTON If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. FLAVIA WEEDN Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody. HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you … never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. HARRIET BEECHER STOWE What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it. ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL It always seems impossible until it's done. NELSON MANDELA Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained. MARIE CURIE (more Marie Curie quotes)It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. CONFUCIUS Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength. THEODORE ROOSEVELT A winner is just a loser who tried one more time. GEORGE M. MOORE JR. If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius. JOSEPH ADDISON Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. DALE CARNEGIE

How I'm Working Through My Beginnings as a Creative Professional
Success

How I'm Working Through My Beginnings as a Creative Professional

This isn’t a success story. It’s about success in progress. I work in the creative field. You know, the one that’s notorious for being full of artists and professionals who are struggling to make a living. That in itself is a myth. The creative field is actually thriving, and it’s now one of the world’s leading industries. It's always growing, even if it's constantly changing. Here in Canada, the Conference Board reported that that the arts and culture industry contributed about 7% of the country’s real GDP in 2007 ($84.6 billion) and employed 1.1 million people that year. The Globe and Mail, the main national newspaper, says that that’s “more than [the] mining, forestry and fisheries sectors, plus the Canadian Forces, combined.” So I’m not here to say that artists and other creative professional have it rough in the end. Just in the beginning. Surviving those early days, months and maybe years is what I’m doing now. How I'm Working Through My Beginnings as a Creative Professional Nobody is gonna call you and say 'this lottery ticket is yours.' - Jerry Saltz The key to understanding success in the creative domain is understanding that it is founded on risk-taking and entrepreneurship. There’s a large portion of the sector that is entirely dependent on inventing your own job, niche, or functioning, independently of typical employment structures. There is a portion that’s fairly standard too, but I doubt I’ll ever get a desk job because I can paint a portrait in the style of Rembrandt or Sargent. If that were my only skill, I doubt I’d even thrive doing that. Adaptability is key Since May of 2016 I have had to negotiate the sales of large quantities of art, initiated a residency in Ontario, painted over 100 works, sold work online myself, sold work through third parties, curated exhibitions, gave talks, taught and taken classes (after my degree), started three websites, and hired various assistants throughout it all. That’s only the part related to my work as an artist. This sounds very art-oriented, but it’s important to remember that the above work requires skills in marketing, communications, budgeting, design, and management. It’s also meant that I’ve had to teach myself or find resources as I go. I've had to learn about website marketing and digital image production (it was all analogue for me before), for example, while I continue to develop my capacity for reading and writing (which was what 70% of my fine arts degree was about). Some of it has worked out and some of it has not. I spent January and February madly applying for work, all because one sale in one exhibition went awry for reasons beyond my control. I was broke and still am because of it. I paid my rent late, and am still catching up on my utilities while trying to figure out next month’s rent. Right now I’m writing, learning about affiliate marketing, painting small portraits of people and animals (which alone, means marketing, sales, design, and production), and it looks like I might be starting work soon in the graveyard shift of a call centre. All of this is so I can continue making the work that I believe has integrity and will stand some test of time. There is no set structure for me to easily fall into, and I believe this is essentially the case in all creative fields. There are regular patterns and relationships that can often form (artist-gallery, actor-agent-producer, writer-publication-publisher, etc.), but they can be highly unpredictable and inconsistent over time. There are two things that I believe are essential to making sure that risk-taking and failure are viable options for creative professionals: working unstoppably and building community. The only solution to workblock [...] is more work. - Jerry Saltz Work unstoppably Working unstoppably is important, because ceasing production is stagnation, and stagnating stinks. It keeps your mind fresh, and it's the best way to reaffirm your passion for what you are doing. It will be miserable, and it will have its ups and its downs, but it amounts to something if you work hard at working smart too. Build community Building community is crucial to working as an artist, because there is no way to do this alone. Talent can be honed in solitude, but hiding it away will never amount to being magically discovered. Surrounding yourself wherever possible and becoming a recognizable (and welcome) face is essential. Avoid making enemies, whenever possible. An English teacher once told me that you never know who you’re going to bump into down the road; that if you you ruin someone’s relationship or insult them greatly in your art school in Canada, you will inevitably bump into them as the assistant curator to one of your shows in Italy fifteen years later. Here is another quote I like about maintaining the community around you: Form groups. You must protect the runt. [...] Why? Because four of the other people think you’re the runt: they’re just never going to tell you. [...] Never break ranks. Guess who. It’s Jerry Saltz again. For those of you who don’t know him, he’s a respectable art critic based in New York. This is a great talk he gave about working through the rough as an artist, but it translates to any creative field. The thought I’d like to leave you with is this: I am struggling right now. It would be wrong to deny it, but I believe that my work is amounting to something. I may be tired and I might be stretching myself as thin as I can, but I feel like working through it is more important than even bothering to look up for a light at the end of the tunnel. So far as I am concerned the tunnel is endless, but it might have windows on the side some day. And I think I can convince some people to walk in it with me too.