JOHANNA SIERRA - BROOKLYN, NEW YORK My name is JO and I’m 28 yrs old from Bensonhurst Honestly the first thing that attracted me to the Ad Barbara posted was my love for bike riding. After reading the ad it became much more then just my love for bike riding. It’s like everything in my life had led me to that ad and this cause. I grew up alcoholism in the home.
It was horrible to be a small child dealing with adult problems. I couldn't just relax and play instead I grew up always panicking worrying and wondering if It was going to be another night of hell and abuse. The abuse I went through was not as much physical as it was mental. I can’t say the same for my mom, It was definitely much worse to watch the violence that went on between my parents. Lucky for me I had an older sister Vanessa to always protect me. I remember just crying and always being so nervous that one day it would end in a tragedy. I have always been a passionate person, and what fills my heart most with passion and life, is the joy of helping others.
I have always been a very helpful giving person, even the nickname little mama was given to me when I was In fourth grade because anytime someone was'nt feeling good I was the first one to see what was wrong and if I could bring them to the nurse and lol. I also had an amazing art teacher Miss Levitt. She had such good heart. She would always tell my mom that she wish there were more people like me in the world. My whole life I have put other people first, I was taught to think about others before you do or say something as well as treating people the way you would like to be treated, I really try to live by that.
My parents both came from abuse and I can remember them both telling me how they didn’t want to pass that on to us and they were so proud of the fact that they didn’t continue the cycle...but they did continue it by allowing me and my sister to endure all of the violence and abuse that went on in the house. It felt alienating because we had to keep the problems in our house a secret. We couldn't even have friends over. Apart of that was because my dad was from Brooklyn, born and raised. A Sgt in the Army and veteran of 2 wars. At the age of 17 he was fighting in Vietnam. Having his own abuse as a child to deal with and being a child at war are the reason I feel he was very strict and had a horrible drinking problem when I was younger.
My mom was born and raised in Puertorico. She was hilarious, tough and very stubborn. My mom wasn’t affectionate with me or my sister but she taught us the most important thing you could ever learn, and that is to be a survivor! My mom was terminally ill for 5 years with Cardio Myapathy, a rare heart disease. She passed away when I was 23 yrs old. Even though I wish she could be here right now, I’m still eternally grateful to have had her in my life for the short time I did. She always told me how important it was to be tuff in this life, because it wasn’t going to be easy. I eventually learned to not settle for anything less than my dreams and what makes me truly happy.
I’m so passionate about this ride because I truly feel the it is so important to spread the message that you cannot control where you come from or where you have been or what life has dealt you but You can control your future and the rest of your life!! I don’t think that most people understand that...yes--life can be hard but you don’t have to settle. You can choose to live a joyful life full of love and happiness! Trust me my life has not been easy but I try to keep my head up no matter what!
I have had to see and go through things like the violence between my parents, mental abuse, my mother trying to commit suicide because of her depression, my sister working in the world trade on 911, thank god she is physically ok, my mom being terminal ill for 5 yrs before she passed away, breakups and over dose’s. I partied hard between the ages of 14-24 doing every drug you can think of…party way too long way too hard…dropped out of high school at 16 had a GED at 17…made some bad choices in friends, boyfriends and in general..Went off to Art school in Florida for college and continued to make bad decisions..And I’m sure as I continue to learn and grow I will make a few more, but there is one thing that I decided a long time ago and that was that I wasn’t going to let my past create my future. I wanted things to change, I didn’t want to be sad and bitter anymore.
I decided I was going to try and see the positive in everything including my mother’s death. The way I see it is I can be bitter or I can be grateful to have had the mother I did and to have been so lucky to learn the things she taught me and my sister. Even my father has stopped drinking the way he use to when my mom was around. I guess even he grew up and realized he had a problem...just too bad my mom didn’t get to see how great he could be and how he stepped up after she passed away.
People who don’t know me or my past would never even guess I have had the life I did. That is because I’m so passionate about life, and spreading positive energy. I always have been the type of “I want to save the world” type of girl, I want to be the person who shows people “ WOW...there are still good people in this world!” and inspire them. I live by example and by how I would want to be treated. Sometimes I go too far, like dropping out of college to help my boy-friend (an ex marine) out of a ruff situation. Sometimes I put people before myself, and as a result I have been hurt, lied to and betrayed. But I don’t carry that around with me like I did when I was younger. I still reach out and go the extra 10 miles to help people and animals that are in distress. I think everyone I knew when I was younger had a kitten from me, I took every animal I could off the street and in to my house or to someone I knew, my parents excepted that was my nature and never turned them away.
Currently I work in Promotional marketing, which is perfect for me because I love people and that my job is always changing. What I want to do with my life I’m not sure because I love so many things, but I know it will involve me owning my own business, something to do with children, art, music, and fun! On the side I would love to have my own nonprofit org. I would love to go into Events Marketing on a different level and start creating and directing charitable events. My family and friends are not shocked by me being a part of this ride, they are supportive and encouraging. They know how important it is to me to show people that you can control your own future and life, you don’t have to settle for anything less than your dreams and what truly makes you happy!
JOhanna
finally having!
finally having!
