Community Letters
Below is a letter from one of our automotive interns. He wrote this for a class assignment, and we liked it so much we thought it would be a great addition to our Web site. My life before and after the Dignity Project By: Josh S. "I can say that before the Dignity project was a thought in my mind I did not know what I was going to do with my life. I was a straight F student not that it has changed much but it gives me a reason to want to wake up in the morning, go to school, and do something with my life. Most people would say that they do not know how I am still in school but everyone wants better when they have nothing, so they do not have to depend on others to do for them. I have been a long way and hope to go further in life than I thought was possible. Others encourage me to learn life skills, like Ms.Green, Ms.Ward, my friends and family. Now that I am in the Dignity Project there are even more people that I can look up to and give me the encouragement that I need to do better for my self. I want to show many of those people who care about me that I can do better and with a push from my elders I will succeed in every way possible. Life has changed dramatically in so many different ways for me since I have been in the Dignity Project . First they are teaching me life skills every day, learning how to put a drive shaft or a C B axle in a car. We have fun sometimes but the main thing is that I can be myself and not be made fun of or be criticized for no reason. It teaches so much that you are so ready for the next day to learn bigger and better things, life skills in the real world and how different things that make the vehicles run. The teachers are more like family and friends than someone telling you how to do something and leave and hate coming the next day. The Dignity Project is nothing like that. It is a place that you will want to come to every day rain or shine, it really puts a good feeling in your heart knowing that people are there to help you succeed in life. I am really grateful that I discovered the dignity project . It has led my life in a different direction to want to make something of myself. Before I discovered the dignity project, I hated my life and others in it, even though those people were just trying to help me do the things for my best interest. I have come a long way with learning life coping skills and my stress level has gone down because I have bigger and brighter things to look forward to." To date, The Dignity Project has given away more than 830 cars since its inception in 1998. Each of these households face unique challenges, but all share the desire to be strong and self-sufficient. Over the years, we have received dozens of heartfelt letters from vehicle recipients; their honest and sincere words constantly remind us of how important our work is to the community. You can also view typed versions of the handwritten letters here.          |