category: Education & Innovation

inputs: My earliest recollect in school is first grade that didn't go to kindergarten. I am originally from a small town in south Georgia, and my grandfather was the principal of my elementary school.


category: Family & History

inputs: My parents integrated the school. They were teenage parents. So I was born in 71 they integrated the school a year or two before I was born.


inputs: I considered myself smart. I couldn't go to kindergarten because I scored, according to my grandfather, who's still alive now, almost 98 years old. He was my principal, as I said, according to him, My IQ was too high for kindergarten.


inputs: In third grade, Miss Holiday was my English teacher, and the subject English. She was very interested in story writing and storytelling, and so for me, I fell in love with reading.


inputs: I was like, the only black cheerleader, only black, just only like that. So I had a lot of friends, and I would probably use the word popular, so I don't feel like I was treated differently.


inputs: I was awarded the most outstanding student. My picture still is in that school.


inputs: My father never graduated from high school, and my mother only graduated from high school.


inputs: I didn't discover that I like math and was good at math until I got to Michigan State senior year.


inputs: My mom got to be the supervisor over the cleaning staff, but she took advantage of her time there because she had me in every class she you can imagine. I took gymnastics, I took swimming, I took tap dance, I took ballet.


inputs: Our parents and our family structure means a whole lot. Teachers can do so much, but it's really down to that community base.


inputs: I actually went to Newberry, Junior Senior High School. Didn't have a middle school at that time.


category: Community & Health

inputs: It was different. It was quite an experience, really, in terms of the mindset that we had at that time, in terms of the thought about what white folks had about us and what we could do and what we could be, that type of thing.


inputs: It was an adjustment, and in terms of dealing with each other and the differences that we had in our opinions at that time, you know that sometime often led to riots.


inputs: I felt good because my preparation from elementary school in terms of what their mindset was, that it was preparing us for the future in terms of being smart individuals.


inputs: TV, watching games, growing up, like you're saying in the NFL, and in terms of what we had to do back then, when Christ is busy, you know, that's what we did to have fun—play football and stuff against each other.


inputs: Science. It gave you a chance to create different things, using chemicals, dissecting stuff, just exploring other means of what made things be.


inputs: Oh, yeah. Oh, we still friends today. One of my best friend's name was Terry Lee, and we've been friends now for over 60 years.


inputs: We were involved in a program called Upper Bound, and that helped us with preparing to go to a higher education level.


inputs: My first love was growing up around middle school.


inputs: No, it didn't affect me. I was an honor roll student.


inputs: Graduated and was one of the first black males that went to a D1 school, University of Florida.


inputs: You need to do your homework and study the information.


category: Faith & Spirituality

inputs: Have a high esteem, thought, value about who you are, what you can do, what you can become.


inputs: I would have them think about what they want to do and what they want to be in life, and how and what they would need to do in order to accomplish that.


inputs: Fort Walton is more Alabama, so it is. The town wasn't as segregated because it's a military town.


inputs: I grew up in a black, black power kind of household, so that was one of the most important things for me.


inputs: I was the only Black student in many of my advanced classes, but I always felt like I belonged.


inputs: My grandfather was both the principal of my elementary school and the vice principal of the high school, doing double duty.


inputs: I had a very structured childhood. My mom worked, and my dad stayed at home, teaching me skills like playing dominoes and painting.


inputs: We had a lot of fresh food growing up because my parents had a garden with apple trees, strawberries, and vegetables.


inputs: I was awarded the most outstanding student in my elementary school, and my picture is still there today.


inputs: My father told me I wouldn't be good at math, so I avoided it for years, but later in college, I realized I was actually good at it.


inputs: My after-school activities were filled with gymnastics, swimming, tap dance, and ballet because my mom worked at the YWCA.


inputs: I was always in competition with my older brother, who was a technology genius and trained people in AI and military tech.


inputs: I had to work much harder than my brother in school, but I learned that effort matters more than talent.


inputs: My family instilled in me that I had to be twice as good as others to succeed, and that shaped my work ethic.


inputs: As a young girl, I was inspired by my cousins going to college, and I knew I wanted to follow that path.


inputs: Our family made a big deal about education, and we all worked on homework together at the dining room table.


inputs: The teacher who convinced my parents to move us to a better school district changed the course of my life.


inputs: I participated in career day and encouraged young students to dream big, which made a huge impact on them.


inputs: STEM programs help students develop critical thinking skills.


inputs: Innovative teaching methods are transforming education.


inputs: Learning new skills has always been a passion of mine.


inputs: Online courses provide flexibility for lifelong learning.


inputs: Creative problem-solving is essential in modern education.


inputs: Gathering with family during the holidays is a cherished tradition.


inputs: I have deep respect for the struggles my grandparents faced.


inputs: Family traditions shape our cultural identity.


inputs: My ancestors' stories inspire me to preserve our history.


inputs: My earliest recollect in school is first grade that didn't go to kindergarten. I am originally from a small town in south Georgia, and my grandfather was the principal of my elementary school.


inputs: Oral history is an important way to keep our heritage alive.


inputs: A healthy community thrives on mutual support and wellness programs.


inputs: Access to healthcare is a fundamental right.


inputs: Mental health awareness is growing in importance.


inputs: Community service strengthens our neighborhoods.


inputs: Local clinics provide essential services to underserved populations.


inputs: Exploring different spiritual practices has broadened my perspective.


inputs: Prayer and meditation bring me peace in difficult times.


inputs: Religious communities offer support and guidance.


inputs: Spirituality is deeply personal and unique to each individual.


inputs: Faith provides me with a sense of purpose.


category: Business & Finance

inputs: Budgeting and saving are key to financial independence.


inputs: Financial literacy is crucial for long-term success.


inputs: Entrepreneurship drives economic growth and innovation.


inputs: Understanding credit and loans helps make informed financial decisions.


inputs: Investing wisely can secure a stable future.