Personal Childhood Web

Stephanie Clark (mother): She strikes me as hard-worker and a go-getter. No matter what kind of situation she was in or whatever she had she made sure that her children always came first and had everything they needed. Not only did she show us that she cared for us by the things she did for us but just by letting us know they she loved us which always made me feel secure to know that no matter what mistakes I made there was someone that would always be there to love me and accept me no matter what. Still to this day it feels good when she calls to say "I love you." or "I was just calling to check on you and the kids." makes me feel special. I am now taking what was taught to me and doing the same for my children. I want them to know how much I love them and that no matter what I will have their backs.

Pamela Washington (aunt): She is like a second mother to me but was always and still is very protective. She always pushed me to let me know that I could do and e anything that I wanted to be. she taught me to never get discouraged and keep pushing for what I wanted. Today she always tells me of what a good job I am doing and how great of a mother I am. She doesn't know that just those small words gets me motivation to keep going no matter how tired I may get I have to keep going.

George "Pop" Barnes (uncle): He is the youngest out of all my aunts and uncles so he kind of knew how to relate to his nieces and nephews. He was the one that we were more comfortable talking to about certain situations that were going on in out lives. He always taught me to have high self-esteem and to love myself. His main lessons were to teach me not to be naive in a lot of situations especially when it came to boys.

Regina Clark (aunt): She always taught me about loving others. This is the only person out of my grandmother kids that do not have any children of her own but will do whatever for her family. She influences me because she loves her family so much that she would do whatever it takes to help out. She is the hierarchy of her siblings. Even though she is the youngest girl, everyone looks to her for advice. She show great leadership and feels that family is the most important. "Don't ever let anything come between you and your family." She is a role model for me. By looking at how she did things, I took on the leadership role for my siblings. I am the oldest of four I feel that I have to set certain examples because just like the children in my classroom, I think about my siblings and think that you never know who is watching and who are following in your footsteps.

Freddie Gardner(grandmother): Her influence on me is to be strong no matter what. Out of nine children, my grandmother has lost two. She also lost her mother and father at a young age and two sisters. She is the one who has to be strong for the family. She had to and still does play the mother role to her three living siblings. She is the one that her deceased sister's children and deceased children's children depend on. Even though I know she holds those places of hurt in her heart, all I feel around her is strength of I got to keep going and think about the now.