AaliyahONeal

R.Arnold
UWRT1101
4September2014

Flashbacktotheyearof2011.Imenteringmysophomoreyearofhighschool.My
firstclassofthedaywashonorsalgebra2,butthatclassdidn'tmeanmuch.Itwasjust
anotherclassthatI'dbreezethroughwithouthavinganysignificanceinmyhighschool
careeranddevelopment.EachyearIenterthebuildinghopingtofindnewhopein
education,newinterests,andanewwayofthinking.Thatyear,Ifoundjustthatthemoment
Iwalkedintoroom419ofSouthCentralHighSchool.Myentirelifechangedwithout
knowing.Imetthetwowomenwhowouldsoonbecomemymentors,mycoach,and
eventuallytwoladieswhowouldbethesponsorofmypoliticalliteracy.
Mrs.LauraMorganwasmorethanjustateacher.Shefirstcameoffasapeppy,
youngandfreespiritedwomanwhodrecentlygottenmarriedandreceivedhermasters
degree.Onecouldtellshewasveryintelligentanddidnttakemuchcrap.Ourfirstdirect
encountercamewhenwhileIwasinmytenthgradeCivicsandEconomicsclass,she
mademestandupandtelleveryonemynameandwhatIwantedtogetoutoftheclass
educationally.ShewentaroundtheroomandwhenitwasmyturnIhesitatedforasecond.
Afterstatingmyname,IdidntquiteknowwhatitwasthatIwantedtogetoutofatenth
gradehistorycourse.IdidntknowwhatcivicswasandIwasntreallyinterestedin
economics.Afterlookingaroundtheroominablankstare,Ifinallycameupwiththe
perfectanswer.IplantoleavethisclasswithanAaverage,andtoknowmoreindepth
aboutthesetopicsthanIknownow,Isaid.Icouldtellshewasimpressedbecauseshe
madeafaceasifshewas,havingherbottomlipslightlypokedout,asmileonherface,
andaheadtilt.Ifeltamomentofconfidenceandpride.ThosewerefeelingsIneverfeltof
thefirstdayofschool.Isatdownwithasmileandmyheadheldhigh.AsIwassitting
down,thedooropened,andinwalkedthewomanwhowouldsoonbemyfavoriteteacher,
andthepersonwhowouldfurthermyliteracy,Mrs.VictoriaBridgers.