I had just graduated college and was officially job hunting. I had a great lead for an accounting position so I picked up the phone to call for an interview. I couldn't get out the word "Hello" and the person on the other line hung up on me. Try again... and the same thing. Breathe, relax, easy onsets...The third time that he hung up, I fell to the ground in tears. Even with endless hours of speech therapy, my stuttering was frustrating, humiliating, debilitating. Along with the frustrations in not being able to get my words out was the embarrassment I felt when someone unknowingly teased me or the discouragement I felt when I backed down from a situation. Stuttering was a wall and as much as I tried to think about roses and puppies in between the blocks, I couldn't get over it. What was I going to do? How was I going to work in the professional world if I can't even say the word "hello"? Nobody could possibly understand how stuttering was controlling my decisions and consuming my thoughts until... I found the NSA. This organization has an amazing power where the people within make a difference! People who stutter often feel alone with the challenge so to connect with others who stutter either by email, articles, telephone, local support groups or annual conference is priceless. I did not meet anyone who stuttered until I was in my 20's and this experience was life changing. Seeing other people who stutter successfully communicating and living life to the fullest was the boost I needed to get over the wall. I could see clearly now how to use all the therapy techniques and take all the advice from speech pathologists over the years. The NSA has opened doors for me that I thought were sealed shut. The NSA has made me a stronger person and it has given me a place where I can give back. I went on to get a job that I wanted, and landed other positions that I would have otherwise been very frightened of (receptionist, waitress, sales, management, real estate). I gained confidence. I got married, have 2 beautiful girls and I still stutter. Now, I work for the NSA as the family programs administrator and web editor.