Influencing Ella
By LMReviews on Jan 6, 2009 in Multicultural Contributors, Multicultural Media
SLR: Who influenced you growing up?
EDC: Mary Glass was my high school librarian. Mrs. Glass instilled in me the art of being a lady. Mrs. Glass was a chocolate, petite, Delta Diva — very refined in every sense of the word. All my life I wanted to be like her and to make her proud in my accomplishments. She was the first person to discuss college with me, vacationing, acquiring the finer things in life and the first adult to show me what Black people could do more than work at a factory! Because of Mary Glass, I graduated in the top 10 of my senior class and went on to become the business owner you are meeting today. Mrs. Glass died of breast cancer 2 months after my graduation, but she lives on in my daily walk. She whispers in my ear daily to calm down! I can hear her clearing quoting her favorite phrase to me, “I choose to walk the path least taken, knowing that God is with me.”
I can’t thank Mrs. Mary Glass enough for caring about me. She took time each day to encourage me to become a fine young lady. Her spirit lives on in me now and forever. I wish more teachers cared about the people who cross them each year. Her high expectations me, drove me to try my best at everything. Let’s give that same sense of hope to the young people that cross our paths.
Ella Curry