Could I be that person you fear?

I have seen and heard some hateful things in the last weeks. What is really most upsetting is many of these things are being said by people I considered friends. At 56 years of age I can decide whether we will remain friends based on your political views. What you are saying is you fear people like me.

I was that 19 year old single mother who took advantage of WIC and food stamps. I did it to feed myself and my child, to complete an education that would later feed us.

I was that single woman who took advantage of planned parenthood to get my birth control pills.

I was the lower middle class mother and wife who borrowed money from the federal government in the form of student loans to better myself and my family. Guess what, I even borrowed money to help pay my bills

I am the nurse who provided care to an underserved population to help pay my back my student loans.

I was the lower middle class nurse who bought a home with an FHA first time home buyers loan, a federal program.

I am the nurse who volunteered to serve victims of crime who had been sexually assaulted, who were often unrepresented, and rarely saw justice served. I was paid for my time through government funding provided by VAWA.

I was the nurse who served children who were victims of crime. I was part of a non-profit agency that received federal funding from Victim’s of Crime grants.

I am the nurse practitioner who again borrowed money from the federal government, who now provides care to our vulnerable aging population!! Guess what I borrowed extra money while in Nurse practitioner school to help pay my bills.

I am a Nurse practitioner who took advantage of many federal programs to become the successful person I am today. If you think giving me these handouts was wasteful, that because I took advantage of these programs I am worthless, that everyone who utilizes federal programs is a dirt bag then guess what. We can’t be friends.