Karla Was Recently Awarded the ‘Confident’ Award at My First Home for The Holidays

My name is Karla and I recently received the ‘Confident’ Award at the Just in Time for The Holidays party.

I have been involved with Just in Time since 2019. I got connected to Just in Time through my school counselor and was able to participate in College Bound and received a laptop and a printer. Little did I know that just a few weeks later that laptop would save my life. I was run over by a drunk driver and although I had multiple broken bones, the laptop absorbed most of the impact saving my life. Since then, Just in Time has been there for me through thick and thin and life and death.  

Almost a year ago I had an accident at work and nearly died.  

My work accident left me with several serious health problems, leaving me terrified that I didn’t have much time left – time to accomplish my goals, fulfill my dreams, and, worst of all, I would have to leave my family. I lost my confidence and my sense of purpose. But like always, Just in Time came to my rescue! I joined My life, My Story, and through this service, I was able to regain my confidence. I learned to work through my fears and get out of my own head. I was also partnered with Kristi, my coach, who became my own personal cheerleader. When I was scared about life, my health, and losing my dreams, I knew I could confide In Kristi. She helped me work through my fears and reassured me that I would be okay.  

Through My life, My story, and with Kristi’s support, I learned to re-envision my future. Before my accident, I had been working towards a law degree to fight against human trafficking. My purpose had been to represent children in court, to protect them, and to change the system. My accident left me devastated because I didn’t feel like I had the health or the time left to do the work that meant so much to me.  

My Life, My Story encouraged me to look back into my past and remember my real passion. I asked myself, “If I were to die tomorrow what would I want to be?”

Since childhood all I ever wanted to be was a writer. I told Kristi about my aspiration and how I had always wanted to write my autobiography. She encouraged me to go ahead and do it. It was when I was writing my story that I remembered how powerful stories could be, especially children’s stories.

Kristi helped me redefine my purpose and, once again, provided the encouragement I needed. I began to write a story that could help children identify the signs of abuse by connecting with characters in books. 

I realize now that I had never lost my purpose, it had simply changed. I could still help children; it just didn’t have to be inside a courtroom. By redefining my purpose, I regained my confidence and worked towards my new goal of becoming an author.

I am completing my autobiography and have finished writing the children’s book that can hopefully make a positive impact in the lives of children and keep them safe. I’m confident with my life now. I beat foster care; I have faced death not once, but twice! And even though I still have a long road ahead and my health is still not the best. I am confident I can handle it! 

Before Karla left the stage, she shared with the audience that she had recently escaped death for the THIRD time, having survived a car accident just several weeks before she accepted her award. She is recovering with the full support of her Just in Time community.

Karla joined the Just in Time community in 2019. Recently, she was nominated for a Laura Catalino Catalyst award of $1,000 in the category of ‘Confidence’ by her coach Kristi. The narrative above was written as a part of her acceptance speech at the Just in Time for the Holidays event.