I love to give dedication to the following people who
nurtured, cared and influence me when I was a child.
My Great Aunt Lillian, was
a very caring, loving, nurturing, and giving person. She was the disciplinarian
and supporting person in my life. My mother passed away when I was two years
old. Aunt Lillian took me under her wings and raised me as if she gave birth
to me, she gave me love, respect, guidance and advice in life. She taught me if
I wanted something in life I had to work hard for it. She took out the time and
gave me her best as a person to show me how much I meant to her, despite the
fact she couldn’t have children of her own. I was her little girl. To have her as
a mother figure and for her to treat me as if I was her own daughter made me
feel very special as a person. She would always tell me that she loved and cared about me
and wanted what’s best for me in life. She said, “You can do and go as far as
your mind will let you go, just put your mind into getting your education,
because education is the key to success.” This had a great influence on me as a
child. It gave me encouragement to strive for my goals in life. She always was
willing to take the time to show me places outside my environment and introducing
me to new things. Aunt Lillian made sure I had a home cook meal in a family
style setting which included my brothers and my father everyday. We would sit
down at the table and say grace. She showed me the proper way to eat, drink,
and to know how to serve myself. She took out time to read to me a story and
also taught me how to read. She helped me with my homework, taught me how to
cook, and sew. She taught me the life skills I need in order to be independent
in life. I learned respect, how to love, and be honest to not only others but
myself. She said, “Respect, communication and understanding goes a long way.”
Most importantly she taught me to trust in God.
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My Father, Bernard Willis was a single parent who shows
nothing but love for his children. He
was a dedicated parent and provider. He worked very hard as a single parent of
five children. He cared for me by making sure I had the necessities I needed as
a child growing up. He also gave me love, respect, nurturing, guidance, and
support I needed as a child. He protected me and made me feel secured in many
ways. Growing up without my mother was hard, so my father would take my
brothers and myself to visit my mother home town, Lock Heart, Texas where my mother’s sister Aunt Rachael
and her children resided. It made me feel special that he gave me opportunity
to learn about my mother side of the family and about her as a person along
with the environment she grew up in as a child. I had the opportunity to meet
my grandparents, cousins and uncle who told me wonderful stories about my
mother. This taught me the value of family and gave me hope. I was able to
establish an identity. He would say, “Relationship is all about family sticking
together no matter what obstacles come your way.” He showed me that hard work
will pay off in the long run with determination and commitment. . My father was
a very supportive man. He cared about helping me solve problems or giving me
positive suggestions or approaches to problem. His biggest influence on me was showing
and telling me how much he loved and care about me as his little girl. I
remember him taking time out to teach me how to play baseball and introducing
me to new activities such as golf and dominoes. He would take my brothers and myself to baseball games. He would often tell me experiences
growing up as a child and stories about his career as a baseball player for the
Army. Ultimately, he taught me the most important lesson to never give up on
the dreams in life that I have for myself. He said, “The Lord will make a way
you just have to believe in yourself and him.”
My Aunt Rachael lived in the Lock Heart, Texas
which is a very small country town with an estimated a population of 12,698
people.
She would let my brothers and I stay with her during the summer
time. She had three daughters and two sons of her own and was my mother’s only
sister. Aunt Rachael was a very loving and nurturing, caring aunt. She loved to
cook, go to church, shop, and watch television together. We would sit on the
porch and just have the longest conversations about what happening in our
lives. We would talk about growing up together or apart. We would share ideas
and experiences that we had in common. She always made me feel special when she
would parade me around the neighborhood to meet her friends and other relatives.
I can recall her telling them how smart, beautiful and talent I was like my
mother.
My God Mother, Ms. Pat, had a great influence in my life she was a Registered
Nurse and a close family friend. She always took time out of her busy schedule
and family to love nurtured and care for my brothers and myself well being. She
would come by the house with something for us to eat during the times when my
father was at work and we were at home with my great aunt who took care of us
who didn’t have transportation. Her love, respect and understand for my family
and I made me feel very special as a child. She was very encouraging and
motivated me to continue my education. She introduced me to vacation bible
school and bowling. She would offer to help babysit my brothers and I and would
take us to her family events, such as birthday parties, shopping trips, and
different restaurants in town. She greatly influenced me as a child by offering
me something to look forward to when I had finished school. That was my class
ring, I was motivated even more to continue my education and make good grades,
because I never own a gold ring before. She encourage me by telling me “I know
you can do it, plus, you can grow up and take care of your family and your self
without depending
on any one else to
take care of you.”
My father oldest sister, Aunt Voncile, I called her Aunt Cile, was a Teacher.
She was the only adult on my father’s side that had the highest level of
education. She taught high school students Cosmetology. She would watch me
until my great aunt got off from work. I had to stay at the High School were I watched
her teach
hair styles. On the weekend, I cleaned her
house and in return she would pay me. This is where I learned how to earn money
and be financially responsible. She rewarded me in other ways too, when I made
good grades in school she would take me out shopping. She would say this is
your reward for helping around the house and making good grades at school. She
always made me feel special and that is what I valued about our relationship. the students creative hair designs, facials and how to do nails. When
she took out time to fix my hair and make me feel pretty it really made me feel
special. Staying with her after school was an learning experience. She was a
funny person who would laugh at me before she corrected me during the times
when I mispronounced a word or use incorrect grammar. Also, I remember her
giving me a mannequin head and wig to play around with. Because I was given the
freedom to explore creative styles I learned all different type of styles.
My family continues to contribute to my present life. They motivated me to
achieve my goals and dreams in life. Also, motivated me to work hard for what I
want and always believe in myself. They are always open to share and introduce
new ideas. Always caring, loving, and nurturing people. I learned how to value
everyone, especially family. Overall their contributions of the different
resources, tools, and skills helped me to grow into the woman that I am today.
It helped me to have a better life for my children and me. Their encouragement,
love, and respect showed me how to build a strong support system. I know that
it will be rewarding to make others feel special. It truly means the world to
have someone who cares about you and respect you as a person.
women of all races are born with the same range of abilities. But ability is not just the product of birth. Ability is stretched or stunted by the family that you live with, and the neighborhood you live in—by the school you go to and the poverty or the richness of your surroundings. It is the product of a hundred unseen forces playing upon the little 
