Timeless Lessons Learned From Star Wars

Click here to read my full column in Published in The Dispatch

  Lesson VII: Everyone needs a common sense friend like Han Solo.

At first glance, Solo seems like a reckless gambler, but his appearance in Episode VII solidifies his heroic status. Harrison Ford’s character was introduced in Star Wars in 1977. He and his furry pal Chewbacca accepted a request to transport Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO and R2-D2 on his ship, the Millennium Falcon. Eventually, the common sense guy was swept up in a plot to save the galaxy from evil. He fell in love with Princess Leia Organa on board The Millennium Falcon, and declined a reward in order to rescue their friends. He didn’t just fall in love with Princess Leia, he fell in love with the idea that good can overcome all evil circumstances. Han possessed something that the powerful Jedi force did not, a connection with the ruffians of the galaxy. Despite his fate, Han Solo’s friendship can be summed up by the essences that he's the lovable cowboy kind of friend that everyone needs.

Lesson VI: One must learn to walk that thin line between love and hate.

This will make perfect sense for those who followed the love story of young Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) and Queen Padmé Amidala. At the risk of losing his Jedi status, Anakin married Padmé on her planet of Naboo. The marriage remained a secret, as Skywalker would have been expelled from the Jedi Order. Ultimately, his marriage to Amidala is blamed for his fall to the dark side of The Force. While watching his wife die during childbirth, the evil Darth Sidious was able to seduce Anakin to the dark side with the pretense of saving her life. The Jedi Knights emphasize teaching the control of one’s emotions to those in power, and Anakin Skywalker is a prime example why this lesson is important.

Lesson V: Be careful who you vote for.

As a pacifist, Queen Padme’ rallied the Senate to vote for new leadership; a vote that ultimately led to the rise of Darth Lords. In the midst of her planet being bombed, Queen Padme’ said it best “Wake up, Senators…you must wake up! If we offer the separatists violence, they can only show us violence in return! Many will lose their lives. All will lose their freedom. This decision could very well destroy the very foundation of our great Republic. I pray you, do not let fear push you into a disastrous decision. Vote down this security measure, which is nothing less than a declaration of war! Does anyone here want that? I cannot believe they do.” She would later learn that indeed some politicians would profit from war, especially her colleague and confidant who goes publicly by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine but is actually Darth Sidious.

Lesson IV: It’s impossible to see the future so trust your instincts.

In episode I, II and III, the Jedi council could sense that there was a disturbing element in training Anakin Skywalker. Throughout the films they expressed a sense of concern but ultimately even the wise Yoda defied his instincts with words such as this, “Impossible to see, the future is." They moved forward with training the being that would become Darth Vader, who in turn set out to murder all Jedi Knights.



Lesson III: In the powerful words of Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Strike me down, and I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.”

As we approach the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  holiday, we have a real life example of how legends can impact policy and change. That lesson needs very little explanation.

Lesson II: The language of love and loyalty are both universal.

We see this demonstrated in Star Wars from the squeals of the stumpy R2-D2. Although he speaks in droid throughout the films, his sentiments are clearly understood. And then there is the huggable Wookiee warrior, Chewbacca, who continues to help humans restore freedom to the galaxy in past and present trilogies. Han Solo's fuzzy side-kick only speaks Wookie (which sounds like a series of groans, grunts, and growls) but is armed with a big heart and an unwavering loyalty that translates easily; reminding us that the social construction of language is not the only form of communication.

Lesson I: “Do or Do Not, There is No Try.”

This, one of the most well-known slogans in the film series, made its debut in The Empire Strikes Back as young Luke Skywalker is training to use the Force. When Master Yoda instructed him to lift his ship out of the water, Luke doubted his strength, saying that a whole ship was different than a rock, but Yoda insisted that the difference was only in his mind. When Luke said, "Okay, I'll try," Yoda responded, "No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."

This year you could look to Star Wars for inspiration and approach your goals with

a Jedi-syle mindset.

Peace, love and may the Force be strong with you in 2016!

Reflection On Stevie's Church of Wonder







I almost fell out of my seat when my beau explained that he was taking me to see Stevie Wonder for our anniversary! Here are some reflections from the evening.

Reviews could never do justice in conveying the profoundly moving, lift-up-my-hands, neck hair-raising, practically spiritual experience delivered by the musical prodigy who we call Stevie Wonder. So I want to begin by saying that this is not a review of the last leg of what Rolling Stone has dubbed the "best demonstration of the boundless capability of American music itself." This column is all about praise and accolades for the prophet of peace, equity, love and funk.
Let me testify to the magnitude of the evening that began in a sea of adoring fans, waiting outside of the Charlotte Hornets' Time Warner Cable Arena. People of all generations exchanged their most beloved verses found in Wonder songs. I giggled out loud when the woman next to me cheered as the doors opened, albeit slightly later than expected. She waved her hands in the air and shouted “Hallelujah! I don’t want Stevie to start without me.”
We plowed down the aisles of the packed arena seeking to experience the flagship album from one of the most iconic musical figures in the past 60 years. Wonder’s songs of the “Key in Life” were acclaimed by Elton John and Prince as “the best album ever made.” The late Michael Jackson called the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack his “favorite Stevie Wonder album.”
Wonder began by dedicating “Love’s in Need of Love Today” to the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks. “Part of my heart is very broken because we as artists ... possess a desire to see a better world, to see people coming together. Yet it seems to me that all you people who are sighted are far more blind than me. … My heart is broken about the people in Paris; the nine people shot in church in South Carolina; the kids shot in Chicago.” The band led into the very first song on the 1976 “Key of Life” album. In a tearful moment, the crowd sang along:

"Love's in need of love today
Don't delay
Send yours in right away
Hate's goin' ‘round
Breaking many hearts
Stop it please
Before it's gone too far."

To Paraphrase One of My Favorite Quotes From The Evening

The crowd rocked and swayed through over three and a half hours of music as Stevie played familiar hits including “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Sir Duke” and “Have a Talk with God.” Stevie also shared the stage with glorious members of a local Baptist church choir, strings, a 30-piece orchestra (all local), six backup singers and a six-piece brass section that he referred to as “some of the funkiest horns on the planet.” He went on to transport us to a “higher ground” of human emotion.
One of my favorite aspects about the performance was the way Wonder wooed the crowd into the feeling of an intimate session. Occasionally, a zealous fan, moved with the emotion, could be heard yelling “We love you, Stevie.” He would smile cleverly and then acknowledge him or her with a “What’s up?” With a call-and-response style of collaboration, Stevie got the men from the audience caught up in singing the hook of “Knocks Me off My Feet.” My own beau, a man who refuses to sing even in church, chimed in with Wonder:

"There's sumptin 'bout your love
That makes me weak and
Knocks me off my feet."

Here is Stevie Wondering Performing this Song Life in London

Meanwhile, Stevie inserted homilies ranging from the importance of arts programs in schools to world peace. He also opened the stage for spirited local artists and backup singers to perform songs of their choice. He provided all six backup dancers the opportunity to share a song ranging from Etta James to Fetty Wap. The one he referred to as “the preacher’s daughter” sang “I love the Lord”; cries of “amen” echoed while the artist closed her eyes and bellowed in a way that brought the crowd to its feet. In the end, she took a bow and explained, “I thought I was back at church.” Stevie replied, “Yes, the Church of Wonder.”
The concert was the perfect example of the divine infusion of love in Wonder’s music. Blood vessels are blamed for his eyes not developing sufficiently and his retinas being detached, a medical condition called retinopathy of prematurity. Despite this, Wonder gives credit to God for overcoming the odds and for his musical abilities.

It is said Wonder initially cultivated his love of music at Whitestone Baptist Church and learned to play the piano at age 4, followed by mastering the harmonica, drums and bass that led to a blessed legacy of music. “Many years ago, there were those who said, ‘Well, you have three strikes against you: You’re black, you’re blind and you’re poor.’ But God said to me, ‘I will make you rich in the spirit of inspiration, to inspire others as well as create music to encourage the world to a place of oneness and hope and positivity.’ I believed him and not them.”
Honored with 25 Grammy Awards, an Oscar and a Golden Globe, Wonder is an inductee into the Rock 'n' Roll, Songwriters and NAACP halls of fame, and he was the youngest beneficiary of the Kennedy Center Honors. He has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and is an assigned U.N. Courier of Peace with an exceptional spotlight on persons with disabilities. Forty years later and Wonder still has "IT."

The concert may have marked the final week of live performances in the U.S. before leaving thousands in a state of Wonder. Nevertheless, I am not alone in saying this was the concert of a lifetime, and “Songs in the Key of Life” is now a soundtrack permanently etched on my soul.





 

I'm a Tar Heel Born and Bred!

It is a "great day to be a Tar Heel!” suggested hashtag “#GDTBATH ” that began appearing in my newsfeed a few years ago. The tag is a product of the UNC General Alumni Association’s marketing accolades and touts accomplishments of the nation’s first public university.

Photo: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

General Alumni Association

 

The hashtag is often followed by announcements such as: Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranked UNC the number one best value in American public higher education for a “remarkable” 10th time in a row. UNC-Chapel Hill also topped the list of campuses that provide the best value to in-state students and the “Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges for 2014″ list published by Princeton Review and USA Today.

 

While the university has experienced unprecedented academic and athletic scandals, the past few years have not damaged the reputation of the nation’s oldest public university. The university continues to be named as one of the top public and private colleges recommended as the nation’s “best values” for undergraduate education based on more than 30 factors analyzed in three areas: academics, the cost of attendance and financial aid. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine explained its selection: “Although Carolina’s admission rate remains among the lowest on our annual list, its students are among the most competitive, and its in-state cost, at $17,000, is not much higher than the average price ($16,140) for all public universities. For students who qualify for need-based aid, the total price for this top-tier university drops to an average of $7,020.”

 

 

As a young girl, I didn't dare dream of going to Carolina until I fell in love with the campus as a junior in high school. I remember staring out of the window of the activity bus that transported the cheerleaders for the 2-A boys' basketball state championship. Many of us had never been on the campus before that evening. We had chills as we walked on the floor of the Dean Smith Center and sat on the sidelines staring up at the championship banners hanging from the rafters.

At that moment I decided to apply to UNC-Chapel Hill. As I learned more about the cost of education, my options were limited, and I considered myself lucky to live in a state that had reasonably priced options for higher education. I would like to think that even if I didn’t have limited financial resources, I wouldn’t have considered applying to an out-of-state college. After all, nothing could be finer!

 

Graduation Day!

 

 

The next time I stepped onto campus would be my freshman year in college. So when the GAA encouraged alumni to reflect on the past, present and future as the university celebrated its 22nd birthday, I did indeed. In fact, I had the privilege of sharing my birthday with the historic moment, and family and friends joined me to sip, paint and celebrate at Van Gogh’s Palette. The Duke fans gave me a hard time about selecting a painting posted by GAA a few weeks prior. Our tribute to the past was inspired by a Starry Night style painting featuring UNC-Chapel Hill’s symbolic Old Well. The structure was modeled after the Temple of Love in the Gardens of Versailles and completed in 1897.

 

 

My most recent birthday celebration with family and friends
Van Gogh's Palette
http://www.vangoghspalette.com/
 

 

During my time of reflection, I recognized that the past few years of turmoil have not defeated my school spirit. True Blue fans will always cherish the Southern Part of Heaven. We do not need accolades to confirm what we know in our hearts. UNC-Chapel Hill remains a priceless gem for our state, nation and the world, and that is why

 

EVERY DAY is a Great Day To Be A Tar Heel!!!

 

Dr. Seuss, Run D.M.C & Hip-Hop

Ever consider the connection between
Dr. Seuss, Run D.M.C. & Hip-Hop?

I know that it seems odd 

to compare children's author, Dr. Seuss, to a modern day rapper.

At first glance, it appears that the two have nothing to do with each other. Perhaps being a fan of poetry and the masterful use of rhythm

led me to believe otherwise.
So one evening
(when I was bored senseless)
I set out to consider Seuss' influence on Hip-Hop,

and apparently I am not the only one who sees the connection.

It turns out that other writers have already connected the dots.

...

First, consider the basic nature of rap & hip-hop.

"noun. 1. a style of popular music, developed by disc jockeys  in the late 1970s, in which an insistent, recurring beat pattern provides the background and counterpoint for rapid, slangy, and often boastful rhyming patter glibly intoned by a vocalist or vocalists. Also called rap."

and

“Hip hop music, also called hip-hop or rap music is a music genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted It developed as part of hip hop culture, a subculture defined by stylistic elements include sampling (or synthesis), and beatboxing.”

As an admirer of the great Mr. Theodor Seuss Geisel, it's no laughing matter when I say that he is one of my favorite rappers. Geisel adopted numerous pen names including Theo LeSieg (Geisel spelled backwards!), Rosetta Stone, Theophrastus SeussGeisel and the notable Dr. Seuss (because his father always wanted him to become a doctor), 
but his flow is more recognizable that Dr. Dre.

Rapper Run D.M.C. acknowledged Seuss’ influence in “Peter Piper;”

the first song on their crucial 1986 record suggests that he is the new

King of Rhyme...

"Now Dr. Seuss and Mother Goose both did their thing

But Jam Master’s getting loose and D.M.C.’s the king."

The Urban Daily (a website for a conglomerate of Hip-Hop radio stations) created a birthday shoutout for Seuss saying, 

"Literary master Dr. Seuss was hailed for the simplicity he infused into his work. Though simple, the sing-song rhyming style of his writing has had a profound effect on the genre known as hip-hop. How many rappers who have had any type of success employed a sing-song type flow? Countless. Ja Rule and Nelly owe their whole careers to Dr. Seuss for making simple raps favorable. "

In a recent Just Sayin' column for The Dispatch
"Seuss is a treasure beyond measure,"

I reviewed
"The Lorax"

and discovered that Seuss often had a social or political message in his rhymes.
He was quite the rebel, you see...

Theodor Geisel drew over 400 cartoons about war, Adolf Hitler, and a few controversial images about Japan. After a stint in the world of journalism, the former war correspondent responded to "Life" magazine’s 1954 report regarding declining literacy among school children. Geisel concluded that children were not learning to read because their books were boring, and the political cartoonist turned illustrator accepted the challenge to “bring back a book that children can’t put down” using a list of 348 words recognizable to first-graders.

Like most rappers, Seuss wrote about issues that bothered him.
For the most part, he did not hide his frustrations. He once explained in an interview that The Lorax "came out of my being angry.”
Another critic called it a "gloomy" book and doubted it was good for young children, but she obviously underestimated Dr. Seuss' ability to pull in another generation of readers. "In 'The Lorax' I was out to attack what I think are evil things and let the chips fall where they might.” In 1988, a school small town in California debated keeping the book on the reading list because some thought it was unfair to the logging industry.

Several of his other rhymes had strong social and political implications.

The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat is said to represent dictators.

When the Cat recognizes the potential of the working people, he sees the need for democracy.

Yertle the Turtle

Yertle the Turtle was published with connections to the rise and fall of Hilter. The book is famous for the quote, "A person is a person, no matter how small."

The Sneetches

The Sneetches has many undertones of opposition to anti-Semitism, along with religion bigotry.

Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!

Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! was a cleverly disguised anti-Nixon story. It appears to be about Marvin K. Mooney, a young child who needs to go to bed but later Dr. Seuss crossed out "Marvin K. Mooney" and replaced it with "Richard M. Nixon."

Just something to consider the next time you're reading the lyrical MC 
Dr. Seuss. 

 

Writers are sensitive

 

For those who missed the clever hashtag labeled #10thingsnottosaytoawriter. Thousands of whiny writers responded by reposting the tag in social media. Non-writers were probably shocked to know there are seemingly harmless but common insults to wordsmiths. Writer folk are a sensitive bunch so most will dismiss our moaning. The chatter online reminded me of the reason, for years, I refused to label myself a "writer."

People treat you differently when they discover you are a writer. They have strange thoughts like expecting you to know their favorite author. "You mean you don't know (insert name)?" And then there is the look of judgment when you misuse grammar. It takes a certain amount of courage to admit to being a writer since it opens you up to public scrutiny.

My contribution to the #10thingsnottosaytoawriter was a single tweet:

"That was your best piece."

Hmmm, so who died and made you an expert on everything I've ever written?

Now I know my tweet might sound ungrateful to readers. It is an honor to have an audience and truly enjoy when people reach out about a piece that resonated with them. Forgive me. I find myself being protective of the columns I've written about things like grief and lost loved ones.



True Story!

They might not be viewed as the best, but they have brought healing to my soul. I have received some of the most earnest responses from hurting individuals who have shared similar emotions. It is painful to speak openly on the subject of grief, yet I feel the closest to those stories.

My favorite columns aren't fun to write, and I don't expect fanfare. My most honest works tend to have a smaller audience. I labor over them more with the understanding they are less likely to get pulled into the system for syndication. It will take some adjustment to having strangers declare which story of mine was "the best."

Here is an example of a column I wrote after the loss of my cousin and grandmother.
It's probably one of the most sincere pieces that I have ever written.

Prayer helps get through year of grief

 http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20140101/COLUMNISTS/301019989/0/search

For the full rant click here:

Writers tweet their complaints published in The Dispatch

Did Harper Lee Just "Set Us Straight?"

DID HARPER LEE JUST 

"SET US STRAIGHT?"

Donating this copy to the "Friends of the Library" Book Sale

Translations of “put/set someone straight” › to make certain that someone knows the real facts about a situation: “Don't worry, I set him straight (on this matter).” Oxford Dictionary  It took two attempts to finally find the message in Harper Lee’s second novel “Go Set a Watchman.” I was determined to hear what the writer was trying to say to the 2015 world that still idolizes Atticus Finch.  This was the topic of my weekly column that first appeared in The Lexington Dispatch. "She finally shook off her fears of inferior writing and shared something as messy and as complicated as prejudice itself. The real hero of "To Kill a Mockingbird" was never supposed to be Atticus Finch, and Lee felt compelled (like a true Watchman) to reclaim her characters and set the record straight." AK Click Here to Read the Full Column

Journey to Yale: Part 2-Journalism & Empowerment

Journey to Yale: Part 2-

Journalism & Empowerment

Click below to read the full version in

The Lexington Dispatch

Yale media course empowers

 

The once in a life-time journey to Yale began last week (to read a full recap of the adventure click here). I hoped to bring home ideas about how to sustain my agency’s most recent program, a small county-wide magazine that focuses on articles and briefs such as, but not limited to, housing, financial literacy, community development, revitalization, foreclosure, education, self-improvement, community champions and upcoming events. As I loaded the car for the 11 hour trek, I realized I had been living off the sheer adrenaline of small town excitement and “We’re proud of you” type statements. But the truth is...
I am very proud of my community and how it has embraced Empowerment Magazine. 


Photo taken at the release party for the first edition of Empowerment



It came as no surprise that a course at Yale (formerly held at Stanford) would provide high quality educational value. I didn’t imagine the rich value of sharing experiences with other editors until I spent the week learning about the most important trends in journalism with participants from 13 different countries. From large to small publications, we shared some similar concerns.

A few of my international selfies representing Mexico, Dubai & Nigeria

  The bastion of investigative journalism   The most exciting examples would bore those outside of the industry. Perhaps the screening of Zapruder & Stolley: “Witness to an Assassination,” followed by a Q&A with the famous Richard Stolley summarizes the experience.

These are some of the magazine that were represented by editors in the course 

Stolley demonstrated commitment to seeking the truth, being a gentleman (unlike current Paparazzi) yet still landing the story.  His story was a great example of the importance of journalism. All week long we could sense his and others’ concerns that the blurring of lines between editorials and advertising, and between listicles and the rush to sensationalism was eroding his beloved profession. Stolley and others, such as Dorthy Kalins, graciously sat with us throughout the week, lending their ears and advice to our dilemmas. Hearing their stories quickly calmed my anxiety about belonging.  By the end of the week, I was presented a small gift of appreciation from director Tina Weiner. I accepted the experience with gratitude for the opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks to Mr. Stolley, the Yale publishing course staff, presenters and my classmates for a renewed faith in journalism, truth and empowerment.

Birthday Tribute to Ida B Wells

Today the world (thanks to an iconic Google doodle) celebrates the 153rd birthday of the heroic journalist 

Ida B Wells. 

The fearless former editor and civil rights activist was an early inspiration as she used her writing skills to document abuse and injustice. 

Google's quote about Wells summarizes the celebration: 

“We salute Ida B. Wells with a Doodle that commemorates her journalistic mettle and her unequivocal commitment to the advancement of civil liberties.”

As a child I learned about how Wells used the power of journalism to enlighten others about inequality, lynchings and women's suffrage. She was revered as an editor of a newspaper twice before the age 25. The most interesting part of her work was investigative journalism and committed communication with the community. In 1889, Wells became co-owner of Free Speech and Headlight where she used the platform to share certain truths. 

"I had an instinctive feeling that the people who have little or no school training should have something coming into their homes weekly which dealt with their problems in a simple, helpful way... so I wrote in a plain, common-sense way on the things that concerned our people." ~Ida B Wells 

Interestingly, I have the privilege of spending a week at the Yale Publishing Course learning about journalism on her birthday. 

The week has reignited my passion for the role that journalism can play in equality. I am eager to return and implement exciting ideas in LHCDC's Empowerment Magazine. 

The celebration of Wells coincides with a week filled with presentations about communication, branding and leadership in journalism. Founding Empowerment Magazine was an inspiration that came from a long-time respect for revolutionary writing like those of Wells, and this week has affirmed my passion. 

These concepts were perfectly orated by the iconic Richard Stolley- founding editor of People, former managing editor of Time, former editorial director of Life. 

During our first presentation titled 

The Power of Truth. 

Stolley warned:

"Democracy depends on Truth.

Truth in your stories, photography, advertising and what you ask of your readers." 

He went on to honor the fearless journalists that have lost their lives since 1992 

insisting that, 

"Seeking truth is never easy."

Today we celebrate Ida B. Well and those who have bravely paved the way for Truth! 

Journey to Yale: Part 1-Dream by Day

My Journey to the Yale Publishing Course 2015

Part 1:

Dream by Day

I needed to make the most of an eleven hour road trip for a week-long magazine publishing course at Yale University. Indeed I am living out a fantasy and can not be convinced that I deserve to be amidst this group of professionals. 
Somewhere between receiving a tuition scholarship and a sweet send off from family and friends, I gathered enough encouragement, motivation and snacks to make this once in a lifetime trek. I keep reminding myself that I can't shrink back after-all I founded a magazine called "Empowerment."

My first challenge started before I hit the road. I was solely responsible for selecting a mid-way point for my drive from Lexington, North Carolina to New Haven, Connecticut.
After looking for a place that would be deserving 
of the nature of my journey to visit a land filled with brilliant writers and journalists... 
I remembered that my beloved Edgar Allan Poe

had a love affair with a city called Baltimore. 
 Perhaps I could glean some wisdom & courage
by visiting his city. 

The city of Baltimore is beautiful and filled with Poe related history. He was from a Baltimore family and lived there during much of his literary career. Both Poe's parents were actors and died tragically before he was three years old. Poe was adopted by a wealthy Virginian. He attended the best schools and briefly served in the military before being honorably discharged. 
He spent his final years in Baltimore writing poetry and living in the home of his auntie Mrs. Maria Clemm.  
During the week of Poe's mysterious death, the writer was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore. He died at age 40 in a hospital near the place where his body lies at rest. 

Before hitting the road for the second leg of my trip to New Haven, I slipped out of my hotel room in the wee hours of Sunday morning to watch the sun rise over the harbor. I was exhausted from the drive but longed to spend a few moments 
at the memorial of my idol. 

Poe was fascinated with dreaming and 
much of his poetry focused on the topic. 

A Dream Within a Dream Edgar Allan Poe, 1809 - 1849










Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow:
You are not wrong who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand--
How few! yet how they creep 
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep--while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

There aren't enough writerly words to express the moment of sheer appreciation that I had for the opportunity to sit in the shadow of Edgar Allan Poe.  I looked up at the sky and thought of what they call "Poe's Baltimore" and wondered what advice he would give to an aspiring writer. 
That is when I found his quote

Day 1 of my journey to Yale began with 
Day dreaming courtesy of 
~POE~

Don't Be Afraid to Tell Your Story!

The following text is a part of an application for the Yale Publishing Course Innovative Leaders Scholarship. I almost didn't apply.

I didn't think a small town girl could compete with applicants from

ACROSS THE NATION.

But I decided to share my story anyway and was actually selected as one of the inaugural recipients of the scholarship (the only one in US for Magazine Media).

I feel that I owe it to others to continue to share my story.

Yes! Even the struggles...

because...

I began to understand the power of telling your story as a junior at Lexington Senior High School when Joe Sink, then publisher of The Lexington Dispatch A New York Times Company, gave our newspaper staff a tour of the local newsroom. He began by giving us a lecture about the important role of a local newspaper. Joe proceeded to show our staff around the newsroom, and I was mesmerized. I became fascinated with the publishing process from start to finish.

That year I was editor of The Lexhipep, the official student newspaper of Lexington Senior High School. It provided me with a brief taste of what it was like to work in a newsroom. The buzz of stories, deadlines, reporters, designers and the press fascinated me.  I worked alongside professionals in the newsroom utilizing their computers, asking questions of reporters and ever-so often getting a peak at their stories before they were published.

When I turned 16 my mom and I decided that I needed to find work to help with the family's expenses. As a single mother, she could barely pay the bills on her wages. She initially wanted me to work as a waitress in the restaurant where she cooked but after watching her wake up each day at 3:00 am in order to go in and prepare biscuits, I wanted to believe that there was something else out there for me.

I made a pact with mom that I would put in applications at several places including The Dispatch and accept the position that paid most. She warned me not to get my hopes up when Joe granted me an interview. I still can’t believe that I walked into the publisher’s office bold and told him that I wanted to become a journalist — like Woodward and Bernstein. I went on about wanting to tell stories and record history in the noble way that he had inspired during the tour. His spiel made journalism sound sacred and heroic. But with mom earning less than $10,000 a year, I could not afford to take an unpaid position. I then took the risk of explaining why this was so important. At the time, my mother, who didn't drive, was working down the street from the publication at Southern Lunch. We could save money by taking a taxi home together after work. My mom knew how much I enjoyed writing and had agreed that I could accept the opportunity, but I could not work for free.

I finished the interview by saying that I was willing to start by taking out trash and cleaning toilets as long as I could occasionally observe how the reporters covered the news. Joe told me to go upstairs to circulation where a job with a desk, telephone and a computer waited for me.

I learned to love the newsroom. I began writing for the youth page the following year and came home during summers and on holidays to take on, and eventually propose, story assignments. And I continued to write for newspapers throughout college until a well-known professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.   I absorbed the teaching of a college mentor, the late Chuck Stone teachings, through a number of resources including lectures and colleagues' discussions on the couch in the offices of UNC's student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel.

READ MORE ABOUT MY UNC EXPERIENCE, THE BLACK INK & CHUCK STONE...

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20140409/COLUMNISTS/304099981/0/search

Stone knew how to tell the story, and he was an inspiration to wanna-be revolutionary journalists. His myriad of accomplishments included having two Pulitzer Prize nominations, being co-founder and first president of the National Association of Black Journalists, a former White House correspondent and the First African-American columnist at the Philadelphia Daily News. During his time as a columnist, he spoke out against injustice and brutality. He led the NABJ at a time when it could have cost him his job.

Although never securing a slot in Stone's classes, I met him briefly while covering a reception for celebrity attorney Johnnie Cochran. At the time, some called me foolish for leaving the state and national desk at The Daily Tar Heel to run off and revive a student magazine called The Black Ink. I was asked by the president of the Black Student Movement to serve as editor of their magazine that started with an activist legacy in 1969. Stone was one of the many advisers who encouraged the student leaders to find our collective voice.

We began circulation of The Black Ink, after a five-year hiatus, using the 1969 mantra "dedicated to revolutionary media." That role came with a number of incredible opportunities, including an exclusive interview with the late Cochran before a speech sponsored by the Black Student Movement. After the interview, I recall approaching Stone near the punch bowl, gushing as I explained how his words influenced my decision.

Later I was honored with the Ernest H. Abernathy Chancellor's Award for Excellence in a Student Publication, and I received a note of congratulations from Stone's office. Previously, the award had almost always gone to the editor of The Daily Tar Heel. A friend and editor at the DTH had won the Chancellor's Award the year before and went on to co-anchor the news programs "World News Now" and "America This Morning." My time at UNC nurtured my passion for journalism as well as my desire to help others. I began working with non-profit agencies that provide empowerment programs for impoverished youth and families. That led me to my current role as Executive Director of The Lexington Housing Community Development Corporation which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that seeks to assist families in obtaining decent, safe and affordable homeownership opportunities. We provide economic literacy, credit counseling, development of affordable housing and home repairs for elderly and disabled individuals. I am extremely proud of our most recent program.

Our staff developed Empowerment Magazine as a free resource of knowledge and information for the citizens of Davidson County, according to a press release. The magazine will feature articles and briefs such as but not limited to housing, financial literacy, community development, revitalization, foreclosure, education, self-improvement, community champions and upcoming events by local writers. This was something that I felt had married two of my greatest passions. And as Vice Chairman of The North Carolina Housing Coalition, I have been asked to speak on the magazine and other advocacy tools across the state.

I am positive that with the reputation of the program that YPC has a number of worthy scholarship applicants. In some ways, I view this application for an Innovate Leaders Scholarship to the Yale School of Publishing Course as a reminder of the bold step that I took in my youth.

So here was the big announcement from YALE!!!

Yale Publishing Course-announces-winners-inaugural-innovative-leader-scholarship

That's my crazy story! What's yours?