Dear President Obama,

It's been such a long time since I wrote in my blog but recently I felt compelled to write to our President.  It pretty much sums up the past 4 years of my life so I decided to post the letter on my blog.

October 15, 2012

Dear President Obama,

I thought of writing this letter many times but hesitated because I thought your eyes would never see it, that an aide would read it or that it would end up on a pile of thousands or even millions of letters. My name is Monique and I want to share my story.

Exactly Four years ago in 2008, I was so ready for change. At the time, I had been out of work for seven months. At the time it was the longest I ever went without working since I was 14 years old. I was laid off from a job that I dedicated seven years of my life to and the future looked bleak. My son was 16 months old and I was in a dysfunctional relationship where my partner was barely present. The next four years proved to be both the best and worst of my life. Immediately after I voted for you, things began to look up just a bit. I took a 20 thousand dollar pay cut and found a temporary position which I was grateful for nonetheless. My dysfunctional relationship was finally over in 2009 and a month later, I found out I was pregnant again. Times were tough and I knew they would get tougher but through it all, I knew that things could only get better.  After my one year contract was up and I was eight months pregnant, my contract was not renewed. I was nervous about the future but I still had hope. I gave up my apartment that I loved and moved back home with my parents. Through cobra, I still had health insurance, or so I thought. In February of 2010, I gave birth to my daughter, a joy beyond belief for me, even though my entire pregnancy was stressful.  In April, my health benefits via Cobra were denied and when I appealed spoke to many people and sent letters, in the end, I was told that I had to pay for the birth of my daughter, a costly c-section. To this day, I continue to get letters in the mail for bills I cannot pay. I am being sued and there is nothing I can do because I have no possible way to pay.

Being Latina, unmarried, pregnant, and not even with the father, although I was educated, I fell into many stereotypes. The one thorn in my side was that I never finished my bachelor’s degree even though I left school in the 90’s a few credits shy of achieving that goal.  I could not find a job, although I tried every day. Once I realized how difficult the job market had gotten, I decided to finish my degree. I went back to Rutgers University, where I originally went to school, and with an infant (who I was still nursing) and a toddler, I studied hard, barely slept for an entire year and earned the degree I so desperately wanted for so long. I knew that finishing my degree, after 14 years away from school, was so important not only for me, but to set an example for my children to never give up and always follow your dreams.  On Sunday, May 15, 2011 it poured the day of my graduation, but in my cap & gown and scarlet umbrella, I could not have been happier. Hearing Pomp and Circumstance as I walked onto the football field, I cried and choked back sobs. 

Unfortunately, graduation came and went and although I started looking for work with new determination, I could not even secure an interview. The game had changed. Thousands of resumes sent into the abyss of cyberspace, I could not even get an interview. That November, the two years that I was on unemployment exhausted my benefits and I had nothing.  I liquidated the last of my retirement fund and was thankful that my children were small and did not understand my financial situation. Still grateful to my parents, I paid them a small amount of rent all this time because I have never been a freeloader but by the end of the year I did not even have money for that symbolic thread of pseudo-independence. I thought I hit rock bottom… then I really did. I broke my foot in my own home going down the stairs in an unfortunate accident.  Broken foot, no job, no prospects, I continued to look for work to no avail.  I was bedridden for 6 weeks and had limited mobility for the last 2 weeks of my injury. For 3 months I had barely any money. For a month I kept my last $10 in my wallet for an emergency, praying that I did not have to use it. In March of 2011, my car broke down for good and I found a temporary job, again, bitter sweet, but at least the sun was shining. Because of my gracious mother, who took me to work and picked me up every day, while also caring for my daughter all day and my son after school, I was able to do well at work. I really thought things were looking up for me, they could not possibly get worse, but they did. The “temp to perm” job that I got turned out to only be a temporary job and my assignment was over after only four months. I was able to be approved for unemployment for 14 weeks, which I am grateful for, but I do know time is running out and come November, I will find myself without a job or money and overstaying my welcome. There is only so much my parents can do to help. My Dad just retired this year and my mom is already retired. I am a college graduate with experience and I cannot find a job that can support me and my family. I look everyday but have found nothing. I am not whining or complaining. I am grateful to God that I have my health, that my children are healthy and happy and that I have a family that can provide a roof over my head at the very least. 

I wanted to share my story with you, Mr. President, because even though these past four years have tested my strength, I have been humbled in a way that I cannot be upset about. I am appreciative of what I DO have and I look forward to what I can accomplish, given the opportunity. I am grateful for these four years, as bitter sweet as they have been.  What I am terrified of, is if Mr. Romney wins the election. To him, I am just one of the 47% “expecting a handout.” I do not expect a handout. I worked hard for 21 years of my life and now that I am experiencing an unfortunate hiccup in my career, I feel I am being ostracized for it, made to feel 2^nd class, lazy or unworthy. It is a sad catch 22. I’ve had potential employers straight out ask me “why are you applying for this position?” for jobs that I am over qualified for, but no one wants to give me a chance for the jobs I am qualified for or almost qualified for if given the opportunity to step up to the plate.

I know that you promised Change, but as you and your inspiring wife have said many times, Change takes time. I will vote for you come November, that I can say right now. I just hope that you think of those out there like me, struggling.  Although it is said that education is power, I do not feel very powerful right now. President Obama, please show me that my decision on November 6^th is the right one. Do not forget me. I will pray for you, your team and of course your family. I ask that you please pray for me, even if it is one time.

God Bless you

Warm regards,

Monique, NJ.

Until my next post, I remain, The Phoenix Mom... rising from the ashes.