Story of My Life

that song about schowSchool days! School days! Good old Golden School ol days. My mother always found a way to keep me busy and out of her way. She would put me on the floodays. Reading and Writing and Arith-a ma-tic. Go to the top of the hickery stick. Oh memory please don't fail me now! In my elementary school days, as I was told, I lived in the heart of overtown. There I attended Dunbar Elementary. Of course I don't remember, but my sister Sandra does. If you ask me, the story of my life begun hen I learnedr to write, draw, spell and read. I was the youngest critter in the family always getting into trouble . I can hear my mom now "child I can't wait til I put your ba hin in school" My response would be "OK". Fortunatly Liberty City Elementary was only four blocks away from home, because dad drove the care to work every day, That gave mom and me the opportunity to walk to school everyday. She didn't like the walk, but I did . I saw all of my neighbors and wave at them. One day a dog ran up to us. I screamed and cried. My mom just stood there clapping her hands telling the dog to get back. Guess what? he obeyed her command. Although I was very excited about going to school ,I held on to her hand tighter once we got to the school. " Be a good girl for moma Be brave" I'll be back for you. At the same time Mrs. Wells a total stranger was pulling me in her class to my seat. A new world, a new me begun. The next day was better because I liked my teacher she made us laugh. First and second grade was a breeze. During elementary school I remember my third grade teachers name was Mrs. Thompson She had big eyes everyone called her frog eyes. That didn't matter to me because she was my girl scout leader. In addition to teaching her class,she taught me to say the girl scout pledge which was "On My honor I will try to do my duties to God and my country. To help other people at all times and to obey the girl scout rules. As one of the best scouts I was selected to march in the Martin Luther King Parade. Camping was the best out in the woods, we learned how to make moccasins,ceremics, toast marshmellows over an out door campfire. that is where I learned to sing Cum baya My Lord. With all that fun going on summer went by fast. I thought I was doing well in her class. Until one day a tutor came to class to see me. She took me out of the class to help me learn to pronounce my words as well as read them properly. My mom always kept me busy in sewing and piano classes. The very first dress I made was a brown and white pokadot baby doll style. talk about self esteem and being proud of myself! boy was I ever. I enjoyed sewing more than music. Even though I wore second hand clothes to school I was envied by boys and girls so much that I was the class punching bag. Not only because the best looking boys was attracted to me , but because of my pretty cheap clothes. My mom would pick out the best clothes from the thrift shop, wash and starch them and they would look like new. Physical Education was another one of my favorite classes because we got to square dance with the boys. Again the best looking boys wanted to dance with me. So again I got beat up after school. Until Freddie decided he was not going to let me get beat up anymore he would fight for me. Yes he became my first boyfriend. He lived right around the corner from me. I could see his house from mine. Every evening the kids would go to the sand house next door to play. The house didn't have any grass just white sand in front. One of our favorite came was catch and throw. Anothor was spin the bottle.Third grade was a new challenge the work got harder although Physical fitness was easy for me. Every year I won awards.Chrous was even better. By the time I reached six grade popularity was not a problem. "Sharpe meat you make my heart beat"was the name of the song given to me and my two sisters that attended that school. The three of us was well known for the many activities we were involved in. Mrs Johnson was my six grade teacher.she was tall, elegant and mean. My sisters Sandra and Dorothy, always fought for me. They moved on to Dorsey leaving me behind. which later I regretted, six girls double teamed me, kicking me in the stomach, head and the rest of my body. As a result I couldn't attend my six grade graduation due to having my appendix removed. My Chrous teacher along with a few of my classmates came to see me at Northside Hospital. They played the songs and gave me my graduation certificate. I felt loved by them but most of all I was hurting because of the stiches in my stomach and because I missed my big day. I thought I would never stop crying. Although Dorsey Junior High was right next door to Liberty City . I was bused to Miami Springs Junior High. There was so many white people there I felt out of place. It wasn't long after that, that I met my best friend Teresa Bacelo. Of course I was talked about because I hung out with a white girl. We scheduled all our classes together. She even liked the same black boy that I liked. Did we fight about him? No way. Science was my worst class. Mr Jacobs didn't believe I knew how to spell my last name correctly because I have an "e" at the end of Sharpe. After taking a test in his class he said the person that scored the lowest score does not know how to even spell her name. He made a point of spelling it for me. That was a very embarrassing day for me. I told him off, my mom did too.I had two years of struggling to pass his class,finally I did. Algebra, and English went well, although I wasnt at the top student, I knew I did my best in spite of all my living situations. Dressing out in P.E. was the pits. To put on those white jumpsuits especially during that time of the month. I managed to breeze through it. Escaping physical abuse seemed impossible, everywhere I went there was trouble. The day I decided to fight back my life changed. That day I decided I was going to put someone else in the hospital. Andrea begged me to let her breast and her head go. Fear made me nearly beat her head in. That stopped everyone from beating on me again. Miami Springs Senior High School met all my ecpectations for learning, exploring my singing talent, and friends. Never again did I worry about someone beating me up I could learn in peace. As a member of the pheniox singers (a selected group) we traveled all around the state of Florida performing. We won the state championship in 1975. Moving on to the national in Rome Italy. Can you believe my voice won me a trip to Rome Italy. Stuffing perfume packages by the hundreds seemed endless, on the other hand it was nothing when it came to raising money for me to go to Rome. That was my first time flying on a air plane. We competed against groups from all over the world. Although we didn't place. That was a trip of life time. We toured France, Malan, ate Italian made pizza and spaggetti. The experience was awesome. 1976 was my seinor year. I did not know how to act. My mom and dad did everything to provide for me to attend gradnite,and the prom. By that time Freddie was dating Jackie and I was dating another handsome guy name Hubert Penny. Peach is one of my favorite colors combined with green and white,we were a shocking couple. His mother loved me enough to be her daughter-law- but that didn't happen. Stepping out! Class of 1976 Stepping out! White caps and gowns. Those happy faces turned to frowns, when we departed. A Diploma in my hand. Wow that was such a great feeling. It's taken me a very long time,to get back to this chapter in my life. However I'm trying to make it all happen agian!! There's so many opportunities out there just waiting for me. My choice has always been to become a social worker for the elderly and children. The longer I wait it becomes my fate. Faith won't let it happen. I can do this. I will get that degreein my hand. Yes I Can!!!Yes I Can.