Growing the Voices of Our Future
The Westside Gazette Newspaper is honored to feature these editorial contributions made by local students.
Interview conducted by Layla Davidson
How have your values and beliefs evolved over the years?
My values and my beliefs are just the ones I have in Christ. My family’s values have always been geared toward serving God, and the church, morning and night. Moreover, my values have been those of serving Christ in my environment. I have served endlessly for church organizations and nothing has changed. I’ve always set my goals to being the best that I can be. God has blessed me richly. And I am thankful for 90 years being the woman that I am.
What career path did you pursue, and what were some of the highlights of it? I was an educator in Miami Dade for high school and elementary school. I served for 34 years for elementary school, I taught at Florida Memorial, and I was a reading specialist. Meeting the children, helping them grow and teaching them best I can was a highlight for me.
Describe a project or accomplishment that you are particularly proud of. What challenges did you face during its execution, and how did you persevere through them? I chose to be of service to all mankind. That’s my motto. I use that motto for my sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. During my life, I’ve always tried to do the best I can. Because I’ve always been able to execute all of my skills and services. I put my heart and soul into serving my community and my church. As for challenges, mostly none. I haven’t had any challenges because I was able to do whatever I needed to do, and serve in any capacity that I undertook because I wanted to be the best that I could be.
What advice would you give to younger generations based on your life experiences?
That they just stay tuned into God and His wishes for us, and what He would want us to be. As we grow older, we want to be the best that we can be doing whatever we can. I’m not strong enough to do that anymore. But I still keep reaching out to people to get younger women to be assets and role models. Stay in the Lord. He’s our Savior and He’s going to give us all that we need.
Can you share a memorable story or anecdote from your life that you think is worth passing on? Be the best that you can be in whatever endeavor you take as long as you stay in the Lord. And serve all mankind. I know that from experience; that it’s the easiest thing because when you lose a mate at an early age, it’s hard to just keep up, but He will show you the way. And I do believe that if you do all of these things, that God will guide you.
