{"product_id":"defying-adversity-as-i-race-to-achieve-my-dreams-there-is-nothing-like-being-believed-9780997374926","title":"Defying Adversity as I Race to Achieve My Dreams: There Is Nothing Like Being Believed","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe world sometimes asks what we're made of. It sometimes dishes out problems that put our characters and strengths on display.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI was a white female who grew up in a small California town, with a brilliant and popular college professor father and a brilliant and nurturing mother. My paternal grandfather made his mark in several impressive businesses, and Mom's father was a Harvard-trained lawyer. Her mother was a grandchild of a U.S. congressman and a member of one of Bangor, Maine's most admired families.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuch academic and career successes thrilled me. Even as a child, I wanted those kinds of successes for me. Not just for a presumed future husband, but also for me. Why not me? Why not for girls and women, too? I was confused and then mad as hell about the traditional \"female role\" that was expected of virtually all females.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI was ambitious as all get-out and never doubted girls and women were as smart, talented, and strong as boys and men. Females also made babies. What a package of gifts we supplied!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the years went by, I tried to push past my anger at the limitations placed on females. Instead, I excitedly began to launch my adulthood. Just watch me! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInitially, the world seemed to bless my excitement and determination. I could swear rose petals fell from the sky. I set lofty goals that sometimes became even loftier. I mean, as a 21-year-old, I was drawn to help a new, not-yet-sworn-in U.S. Senator, whose family had just been in a dreadful automobile accident. I moved from California to Washington, D.C. and became his first \"intern.\" The Senator was 30 years old then. He's 81 now: Joe Biden, President of the United States. Sweet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI grew up enthralled by the Kennedys. In fact, I was so devastated by President Kennedy's assassination when I was 12 that I set a goal the day after he died to somehow get to know members of the Kennedy family and establish a career path among them and their peers. (As you'll see, I did quite well.) I'll even take you on my sail with the Kennedy family, on their boat, near the Kennedy Compound. Nice. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen everything started to collapse. Dear God, No! Why? Two men did terrible things to me. I later got a disease that doctors couldn't diagnose. The symptoms were dreadful and went on and off for years. Doctors made fun of my descriptions; they stated or implied I needed psychological help-in an era when seeing a psychotherapist was frowned upon and could be career-threatening.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI became a rat caught in a maze just after I thought my life was a glowing wonder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWas something wrong with me? Was I stoical and brave in the face of all this, or was I in denial about the proper role of females or, maybe, was some other message trying to find me? You will find answers, verifiable answers, to such questions as you read this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Hirschwood Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/08\/2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780997374926\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.63lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.60d","brand":"Jennifer Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44507380056245,"sku":"9780997374926","price":12.71,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_367a9a50-5b10-4745-9b53-a74dab032317.jpg?v=1722312068","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/defying-adversity-as-i-race-to-achieve-my-dreams-there-is-nothing-like-being-believed-9780997374926","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}