Copyright © December 04, 2007 by Parent Victims All rights reserved
| About Crystal |
I was raised in western Pennsylvania, which is where I've spent most of my adult life as well, with the
exception of spending four years in Jasper, Indiana. I returned to western Pennsylvania due to a family
emergency and decided to stay after my return. I moved to Berks County 3 years ago (October 2004).
For the most part, I have been in the music business all my life. I started at the age of 5 and just decided
to make a change about 3 years ago. My love for music is still very strong, I've just decided it's not what I
want to pursue on a professional level. I've also been a single parent for many years - and in fact, I have
raised all 3 of my children entirely on my own. Of course, being a single Mom wasn't easy, there were
struggles along the way. I pursued many other areas of employment as well; from retail sales to real estate
management, to Mary Kay Beauty Consultant and retirement resort management. I've worked as a
teacher's aid with physically and mentally handicapped and abused children at the Pennsylvania
Association for Retarded Children (PARC) - I've even done my share of house painting. And when I was in
the music business, I was an active member of the Tri-State Country Music Association (TSCMA) - a
non-profit organization, and was very active in participating as well as organizing fund-raisers for children
and families in need, such as medical/hospital expenses or shelter (in case of a house fire, etc). You know
what they say: "Jack of all trades, master of none." That's me!
Currently, I am an online college student at Kaplan University. I am pursuing my Bachelors Degree in
Criminal Justice and doing very well with it. I currently have 3.71 cumulative grade point average, and I'm
very excited about that. I am undecided at this point in time exactly which area of the Criminal Justice field I
will pursue, but am leaning heavily in the direction of Forensic Psychology or Criminal Profiling. I guess I
have time to think about that yet. And of course, I am hoping and certainly trying to be an advocate for
victims of abuse. I feel I could help so many, many people because I, too, came from an abusive
background. Since enrolling at Kaplan, I have studied several areas of Psychology and many of the issues
surrounding abuse, including their emotional impact on the victims and many of the legalities that are
involved. I have always been a giver, a caretaker - I guess that's just part of who I am. I believe we all
have the right to live our lives without fear, without interference from others; providing of course, that we
allow others that very same right. I think if everyone focused on living their own lives and leaving everyone
else to live theirs, our society would be a much happier place to live.
I am also a very firm believer in my God. My faith has been the only thing that's gotten me through most of
my life. Had it not been for that, I'm not sure I would have survived it. When all else failed, my God was still
there. I'm not a church goer, I don't believe I have to be in order to have faith. As long as I believe in Him
and in the power of prayer, and make an honest attempt to live a decent life, that's all He expects of me.
Whatever lies down the road for me, I know He'll get me through it!
exception of spending four years in Jasper, Indiana. I returned to western Pennsylvania due to a family
emergency and decided to stay after my return. I moved to Berks County 3 years ago (October 2004).
For the most part, I have been in the music business all my life. I started at the age of 5 and just decided
to make a change about 3 years ago. My love for music is still very strong, I've just decided it's not what I
want to pursue on a professional level. I've also been a single parent for many years - and in fact, I have
raised all 3 of my children entirely on my own. Of course, being a single Mom wasn't easy, there were
struggles along the way. I pursued many other areas of employment as well; from retail sales to real estate
management, to Mary Kay Beauty Consultant and retirement resort management. I've worked as a
teacher's aid with physically and mentally handicapped and abused children at the Pennsylvania
Association for Retarded Children (PARC) - I've even done my share of house painting. And when I was in
the music business, I was an active member of the Tri-State Country Music Association (TSCMA) - a
non-profit organization, and was very active in participating as well as organizing fund-raisers for children
and families in need, such as medical/hospital expenses or shelter (in case of a house fire, etc). You know
what they say: "Jack of all trades, master of none." That's me!
Currently, I am an online college student at Kaplan University. I am pursuing my Bachelors Degree in
Criminal Justice and doing very well with it. I currently have 3.71 cumulative grade point average, and I'm
very excited about that. I am undecided at this point in time exactly which area of the Criminal Justice field I
will pursue, but am leaning heavily in the direction of Forensic Psychology or Criminal Profiling. I guess I
have time to think about that yet. And of course, I am hoping and certainly trying to be an advocate for
victims of abuse. I feel I could help so many, many people because I, too, came from an abusive
background. Since enrolling at Kaplan, I have studied several areas of Psychology and many of the issues
surrounding abuse, including their emotional impact on the victims and many of the legalities that are
involved. I have always been a giver, a caretaker - I guess that's just part of who I am. I believe we all
have the right to live our lives without fear, without interference from others; providing of course, that we
allow others that very same right. I think if everyone focused on living their own lives and leaving everyone
else to live theirs, our society would be a much happier place to live.
I am also a very firm believer in my God. My faith has been the only thing that's gotten me through most of
my life. Had it not been for that, I'm not sure I would have survived it. When all else failed, my God was still
there. I'm not a church goer, I don't believe I have to be in order to have faith. As long as I believe in Him
and in the power of prayer, and make an honest attempt to live a decent life, that's all He expects of me.
Whatever lies down the road for me, I know He'll get me through it!
| "When ye pray, believe! Through Him, all things are possible!" |
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