From Her Eyes
Today, I believe it came full-circle for me. That I should blog. As the New Year came into existence there has been a constant tug-a-war within myself, if I should commit to this writing journey. Through this is not a new platform for me it still derived an internal conflict, whether there would be enough time to dedicate or if I knew what topics to focus on. But I saw the light, the constant need, based on conversations with friends and family about their lives journey and aiding as an encouraging voice or a resource that sharing my experiences was essential. Today I proclaim and say…Hello blogosphere, I’m back!
This blog will tell my story. It will give account to my educational journey. It will unveil to you my “why.” I will discuss entities that hold my interest, my passions, such as education, the need for building and sustaining community, family, and friends as we fight to establish a strong foundation for the generation to come.
Over the years, many of my friends have showed their gratitude toward my encouraging words to them about finishing school and staying on the road toward success. It never dawned on me that my life was an example for others until moments that allowed them to share their thoughts arrived, such as graduation and birthdays. These like moments displayed with such emotion awoke my sensitivity, awareness and reminded me of my “why.”
For me, the decision to advance my education was selfless. As a freshman at Ferris State University, I remember writing and proclaiming my “why.” It was simple to me at the time, because going away to school to obtain a higher education was never solely about me. It was/is for my grandmother, Mary Lee, who never made it past the 8th grade in southern Mississippi, and it is for my mother, Patricia, who surpassed her mother by receiving her high school diploma and advanced to her Associate degree but always had regret for not obtaining her bachelors. And upon writing my bibliography, last spring, my grandfather (Willie James) played a key role in why I value the power of education. A portion of my bibliography reads: … My grandfather, Willie James Fletcher, has always been huge on the importance of education. After his time in the U.S. Army as a Private First Class (PFC), in 1955, he enrolled and received his diploma in 1956 from Lewis College of Business in Bookkeeping and Accounting. He was the only one of my grandparents to receive higher education. Entering college, I was determined to graduate in four years. My determination was built on one of the many goals I had for myself. Therefore, I attended school all-year-round: Fall – Spring, Summer – Fall, during my four years. I have always been big on education, this is one of the many things my grandfather Willie James taught me.
On a crisped Spring morning, April 8, 2014, I created a caption to accompany a meme of James Baldwin with the quote attached to it that read “Read. Read. Read. And when you can’t read anymore…write.” I shared that meme through a post via Facebook and Instagram along with a caption that gave reference to my grandfather: Good morning. My Granddad always told me…”If you ever want to hide something from a colored person to put it in a book.” He always stressed the importance of reading to me. Whenever I would complain about being bored, his reply was always “go read a book.” I could have just gotten home from school…like, “Granddad, I’m done learning for the day!” He would just crack a smile and laugh saying, “you should #neverwant to stop learning.” Yes, I grew up in a house where the books overflowed the bookcase(s).
The message he was trying to convey didn’t dawn on me until I was much older. Growing up, I could never understand why he wanted me to read so much. But now, I get it. “You should never want to stop learning.” It’s a phrase I will always hold dear. As I sit at my kitchen corner in my Virginia apartment, a woman on her way to obtaining a Master of Arts Degree within a few month, I can finally say: “Granddad, I guess you were right all along.”
The reasons why I strive so hard is first to honor God for the gifts and talents He allowed me to have, second to establish a better institution for my family, and last…well, that’s still pending.
Kujichagulia. Self-determination.
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