Dishema S. Shuler, MSW, LCSW 

Have you ever read the story about the “The Ugly Duckling”? Well, “The Ugly Duckling" story tells of a unattractive little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from the others around him until, much to his delight, he matures into a beautiful SWAN, the most beautiful bird of all. 

I loved to read this story as it shows how being different is uniquely the best thing that a person could be. It shows how a difficult past can be transformed into something so great.

This is something that I had to master. Being different isn’t a bad thing and being an outcast challenge us to see things differently than others and try new things that others are afraid to do. Our past does not define use, yet it shapes us to become victorious.