Kelly's missteps

Charity: U.S. Veterans Initiative

Entrance to U.S.VETS - Prescott: December 15, 2015

Branch of Service: U.S. Airforce (1980-83)

Kelly has experienced a few missteps along her journey which has landed her, today, on a positive path full of gratitude, opportunities and a bright future. Rewind just a year ago and Kelly came to U.S.VETS carrying what seemed to be overwhelming burdens. She faced homelessness after violating her probation. This familiar cycle of losing everything over and over again after succumbing to her addiction was an all too familiar scenario. But on December 15, 2015 after spending a few days in a local shelter, Kelly reached out to the Prescott V.A. for a help. They directed Kelly to U.S.VETS. At this point, Kelly knew that nothing would change without immersing herself in a stable environment which included shelter, food and safety and that is exactly what she found at U.S.VETS.

It was from this place of stability that Kelly “slowly” began to build a positive future for herself. While at U.S.VETS Kelly has learned valuable life skills which she pulled from numerous sources. First and foremost, she’s learning how to stay present by practicing a daily mindful mediation. Kelly says that it keeps her grounded which makes it much easier to set and achieve manageable goals. Through hard work, focus and support from U.S.VETS Workforce Development, here are just a few of the goals that Kelly has reached in the past year: completed an Associate of Arts degree from Yavapai Community College (YCC); held a Student Ambassador position at YCC; transitioning from a part-time to a full-time position at the YCC campus bookstore and graduating from DUI court January 2017. She smiles when she lists these achievements but knows there were a lot of barriers which could have easily derailed her and is grateful for the support along her new path.

If these achievements weren’t enough to prove her determination to set a new course for her new life, in July of this year, after only six weeks post back surgery, Kelly climbed to the top of Thumb Butte with a group of fellow veterans from Red White and Blue team. When asked where she sees herself five years from now, it’s not hard to imagine Kelly on “top of a mountain” with her feet firmly planted as she carves out her place in her new found world, living life one day at a time.