About the Author Marlene Phillip was born on September 23, 1978. She is the proud mother of Aaron and Aaliyah. She was born and raised on the beautiful twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. She came from a family of thirteen, with seven girls and six boys. She experienced the death of her mom and four of her siblings that led her to questioned God about her existence. Marlene wants to make a difference in the lives of others by bringing hope and life to situations that may seem to be difficult to overcome. She is an overcomer of abuse and child neglect. However, instead of dwelling on her negative past, she came to the place where she was able to embrace it and learned that God always has a plan. Marlene is currently a student at the Goldey Beacom College in Delaware, where she is proud to be a first-generation graduate who holds a BS in Business Administration and an MBA in International Business. She plans to pursue her Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in 2019. Her passion for education came when she was taken out of school at the tender age of thirteen. After another thirteen years of being out of school, she was determined to go back and prove to herself and others that a setback or delay in life does not mean you cannot pursue your dreams. The sky is the limit for her. As an aspiring leader and coach, Marlene has a heart for service. She believes people matter to God, and they should be to us as well. Her desire is to be a transformational speaker, where she can not only inspire or motivate others, but to transform their lives wherever she goes. She always refers to herself as the "three D's" --Dedicated, Disciplined, and Determined. Marlene is a go-getter and loves to be challenged. She does not believe in using the word can't. She always states, "She can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives her strength". She loves writing, reading, going to movies, travelling, and meeting new people.