Julya is most proud of her independence and credits the people in her life for helping her develop her pride in herself and her accomplishments.
by Julya Hutton (Surrey, B.C.)
My name is Julya Hutton and I am a self advocate with Milieu Services. I provide advice and mentorship to individuals with diverse abilities. I also sell pictures in a gallery called Blue Lotus/Smart Frames. I have also worked at the Cloverdale Country Farms and Applewood Tea Shop.
I am proud of many things, but what stands out most is how proud I am of my independence. I have grown from constantly relying on someone for support, to now choosing my own direction in my life. This growth has given me a strong reason to be a proud.
People have always been the central aspect of my life. They have helped me to become who I am today. My support staff have helped open my eyes to the opportunities out there and encouraged me during the rough patches. They have helped me pull through the big decisions and even offered a home until one was found.
I have had employers who have reminded me about confidence and living life to the fullest. I’ve had colleagues encourage me to take a step forward further out of my comfort zone and go places I’ve always wanted to go on my own. I have caregivers who worry about me and take care of me through the good and the bad times. I have friends, with and without diverse abilities, who have helped me discover what’s on the safe side and what is not.
All these people have helped me to become proud of who I am – of having my own style and being able to earn on my own money and direct my own life. I can go out and do what I want, when and how. I set my own goals and achieving them makes life all the more exciting and challenging.
I encourage everyone not to be afraid of trying something new. It’s a great feeling of accomplishment and helps pull you forward to the next challenge ahead. So live life to the fullest and be who you are!
