Speaker presents message of hope
by Kathy Hart, reporter

    Experiencing the world through the senses is one of the first ways for someone to learn who she really is, a South Campus speaker said last week.

   Elna Vanderberg, executive director of Open Arms, Inc., presented Helplessness to Hope, a seminar on success.

   The majority of attendees were members of Women in New Roles (WIN-R). The age group and background ranged from those beginning college to women being thrust back into the work place.

   Vanderberg relayed a message of hope and determination from a life of experience. She spoke of the day she realized any day was the first day of the rest of her life, and she has kept that as her motto.

   Staying ambitious and determined proved to be one of the strongest obstacles in her path, Vanderberg said. Through her own story, she illustrated that anyone can succeed if she follows the proper steps.

   The first step is to believe in oneself, Vanderberg said.

   “If you are not telling yourself that you are doing a good job, how can you expect your children to tell themselves that they are?” she asked.

   From there, her steps went to finding a role model who will help through trials, making a plan when one is feeling inspirational and being prepared for setbacks.

   The road to independence is not easy, and there are obstacles, Vanderberg said.

   “But if you make up your mind from day one and stay excited about it, you will conquer any potholes in your path,” she said.

   Vanderberg also discussed Open Arms, an extended program for abused women and children seeking refuge.

   Open Arms provides a place to stay for the first six months on its property.

   Then the group provides a house in a residential area for the remaining two years of the program while the women are training for the workforce.

   Vanderberg concluded by reading the poem Don’t Quit, which reiterated her message.