What Determination and Support Can Achieve: Veri’s Circles Journey

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time.

Thomas Edison

My name is Veridiana Santiago Brunson. Although I’m a 24-year Richmond resident, my heart will always belong to Puerto Rico, the beautiful island where I was born and raised. I’m married with 3 sons and now a grandson, and my life hasn’t been easy.

As a single mom for many years, I was living pay check to pay check. My dear friend Xiomara told me about Circles, and how much of a help they were to her. I applied, and now, two years later, I am graduating. What a ride this has been, through many ups and downs, many times wanting to quit, not thinking it was a good fit. And, I did it!

To the current and future leaders

Giving up is not an option! Yes, it gets frustrating; sometimes it feels like you’re staying behind instead of getting ahead. Trust me when I tell you that every single step will take you closer to your goals. Stick together and grow together. Take time to get to know each other; you’ll be surprised at how much you can learn from a stranger and vice versa. I know it's a huge sacrifice to come out every Tuesday and stay committed, but think of it this way: every time you show up is a new opportunity for you to build relationships, learn something new, focus on your goals, and work with someone who’s willing to help you accomplish those goals.

To the Allies

Thanks for being here! Thanks for showing up. Your time and efforts don’t go unnoticed. Continue to be available, continue to show respect, and continue to be present, even when we leaders don’t have the best attitude at times. Remember, we couldn’t have a Circle without you.

Let’s talk about money for a moment, who doesn’t like to spend it?? I’m grateful for all the things I’ve learned about budgeting, Oh Lord! What an eye opener that was, seeing how much I was spending and how often was definitely something I was not ready for. Keeping myself accountable for my actions towards buying things that I truly need versus buying things that I want is a different game.

Something that I work very hard on while at Circles, was my credit score, even though it was something I worked on without help, the guidance from my Circle helped tremendously, and I can say that not only did my credit score go way up, now I’ll be able to BUY a HOUSE, hopefully by end of the year!!!

For those who don’t know, my background is in Funeral Service; yes, I SEE DEAD PEOPLE for a living! It has been my dream since my teenage years to become a Funeral Director one day. I’m a proud graduate of John Tyler Community College, now Brightpoint. To become a funeral director, you must take a national board exam, which consists of two parts. I’ve taken the test more times than I want to admit, and then I just quit. I went on with my life and put my dreams on the back burner for a long time.

Sometime last year, I was reminded of my dreams and shared them with my Circle. As always, they were so supportive and cheered me up, helping me regain my confidence to take the test again. Between my husband, who is also a Funeral Director, my sons, my Circle, and especially my sister and best friend Samaria, I went ahead and took both tests. Guess what? I finally PASSED! I cannot explain the relief I still feel knowing that I’ll never have to take the test again, and most importantly, by this time next year, I’ll be a FULLY licensed funeral director! Dreams DO come true!

To my family, my husband and son, thanks for your unconditional support every time I said, "Oh, I can’t; it’s Circles night." Thanks for always being by my side.

I’ll leave you with this: You will get out of life as much as you put into it. It is easy to blame others, quit, and be lazy; it’s easy to make any excuse.

But if we just push one more time, we will succeed and experience how wonderful it feels to accomplish what we worked so hard for. It is then that we learn that giving up was never an option.