We have been adjusting to a new way of operating and serving youth in our state in the last few months. Virtual world... here we are! We are also facing quite a funding challenge due to loss of some major donors. YOU can help! Read on to learn everything that is going on at KYEA!

I LOOOOVE listening to music. I also love talking about music and singing. Music brings a smile to my face. I also LOVE educating the community about people with disabilities. It is very important to me, and it often weaves its way into various parts of my life… even my Facebook page. These are just some of my passions. Why is it important to have passions in life? Because the things that we are passionate about motivate us. I would venture to say that we work the hardest and do our best work when it involves something that we are passionate about. Our passions give us purpose!

So, what are your passions? Maybe you are not sure, or you would say that you don’t have any. I’m guessing that is not the case… it’s possible that you’ve just never labeled these things as your “passion.” So, how do you know if something is your passion? Think about this:

If you answered yes to most of the questions above, then I’m guessing this is your passion! But, what if you just can’t think of anything that would make you say yes to those questions?

There is a huge difference between passion and purpose. They are questions that we always ask ourselves when going about life. But, to me, it’s one of those things that you can’t find one without the other. But, only you can find what your passion and your purpose is. You need to ask yourself, what do you love to do with your life? For me, that is racing. I feel like my purpose in life is to be racecar driver and be in the racing community. I didn’t find my purpose until after I found my passion. That is the way I view these two meanings. I first found what I love, and that’s racecars. Once I involved myself deeply into the sport, it became my passion. It’s what I am always thinking about every minute of the day; what I strive to be better in every way possible. Once I found my passion, I began to understand that is what my purpose is.

This year has been nothing short of unexpected, crazy, and overwhelming. I don’t even have to begin listing off things as you probably already have a list running through your head. Each one of us has seen unique individual challenges. Through the most horrible of times came the best moments of humanity. Bringing us back to focus on love, family, giving, community, and purpose.

Through everything we go through in life, we have the same choice to make: will we sit around and give up or will we take a stand and move forward?

Pre-ETS is a phenomenal program, one that prepares students for their next step in life. It is a program for students between the ages of 16 and 21 that have a disability, and it is accessible throughout the entire state of Kansas. This program assists and prepares students for post-secondary schooling or employment/career training. This program provides 5 main services and those are: Job Exploration, Self-Advocacy, Workplace Readiness Training/Independent Living Skills, Counseling on Post-Secondary Education, and Work-Based Learning Experience.