Hello my name is Tonika, I’m 34 years old I stand about 5 foot 3 inches, and I’m currently working as a drug and alcohol prevention specialist for a non-profit organization. I believe that I should be chosen as one of Pittsburgh Beautiful, Brown, and Bold, woman for several reasons. For one I bring a lot of experiences that I have experienced throughout my life especially as a young adult. I’ve experienced many set-backs, failures, disappointments, failed relationships, I’ve experienced mother hood at a young age, marriage at a young age. I have also experienced many successes and accomplishments even though my story is still being written; I’m going to keep working towards my goals until they are accomplished. The sky has always been the limit with me; I’ve always set the bar high even though I’m still reaching and learning. Becoming a single mother at the tender of age nineteen years old, I had to grow up fast I had to juggle motherhood, being a full-time college student, and maintain working a full-time job at the same time was definitely challenging. I did not live at home with my parents I had my own apartment with my daughter. It was hard to maintain and balance everything I would work late until 12 midnight, than I was getting home late. Get my daughter to daycare in morning then go to my 8am class. I did not always have a car to get around in. The one time I bought a car off a guy in the penny saver for thousand dollars and he scammed me, gave me a lemon so I was back
to square one again. I would to get off work pick up my daughter from daycare and walk home mind you I did not get off work until 12 midnight, so it was late getting home. I saved every penny I could to get another car so that my baby and I did not have to walk home in the cold and dark anymore it was scary. My boyfriend at the time came around every so often and offered a helping hand, but I could never depend on that because it was so random and he was very selfish and self-centered. 99 percent of the time I had to do things on my own if I wanted it done with the help of God. I stayed with my ex-boyfriend until my daughter was about 3 years old she is now almost 15 years old so she has been raised she is almost a young adult. I have had many challenges with her as you can imagine, she is a beautiful, smart girl, but those growing pains and years can be hard. They challenge your authority so much, and their peers are more important to them then the parents that are tough. Needless to say I met my husband when my daughter was 3 years old we started dating when she was 4 years old, I have been married for 7 years to my husband and we’ve been together for 10 years and I have four children with him 5 altogether. Got married at 26, at age 26 there was a lot I did not know about marriage, I had to grow and learn so much as time went on. My husband and I will both admit we got married young and had no idea of what we were doing. I did not fully understand the role of a Christian wife, and he did not fully
understand the role he had to play either. Sure we loved each other dearly we wanted to be together raise our family together, but did not realize the sacrifices and issues, submissions, that was all part of a marriage. My husband and I had and still have to overcome a lot of hurt of bitterness, resentment that has come into our marriage. Also trust issues, learning how to communicate, financial setbacks, family affairs and jealously. Sure everyone will experience hardship in their life at one time or another but our problems took place the very moment we said “I Do” in front of family and friends. We are still a working progress even though we have been married for almost for 8 years a lot of life lessons had to be learned. Our faith has gotten stronger we had to realize that God wanted us to fully trust and believe in him and will see us through, we bought a house in 2013 our first house even though it needs some work done to it I’m thankful we were able to sustain a home for our children. I’m working on a new career in nursing and my own business I feel that entrepreneurship is very important to me especially at this point in my life. I want to work on a book this year to inspire women in general to keep living their dreams I know God has a plan for me I’m going to wait patiently on him and continue to keep trusting in him. Like I mentioned before my story is still being written I can’t wait to share my experiences and tell everyone what the lord has brought me through.
