2 The Compass Tuesday. December 7,1993
Darrtcfc Davis,
Ym. VWmmi peopla do fnt 0(6 to fisten to ttwtruih.
manaftate.
Jm’MVMIHanM,
Sophomora
Yes; Action s the onV thing ttatwil make
people recognize u».
TalkofECSU:
Doyou think that an economic boycott of businesses that support the Daily
Advance would make people realize the impact ECSU has on the community?
Kirk Rivers,
Sophomore
Yes. The community is not supporting
E(^U, This is Ae second largest source
of income. We should boycott because
without us their economy would suffer
tremendously.
Oorma Shaw,
Junior
Yes. That (rffort would serve sohm merit
The education of our future should be
stressed. We must make saaifk;es to
tmprove our posterity and so shouM the
community.
Guest Column
Mother’s story teaches student
the secret of strength, success
I learned that there is no excuse good enough to keep me
from achieving my goals.
Adrienne McIntyre
It was ten o'clock in ttie morning, and
my mothw was cookir^ oxir Saturday
breakfast I watched herasbeadsof sweat
rolled down her forehead. Her honey
colored face seemed to glisten as she
leaned over the steam rising from the pot.
"Mom, what makes a woman strong?"
I asked.
"A strong woman is easy to define yet
so painful to become," my mother said.
I waited until she spoke again.
"A strong woman has faith in herself.
She is eager to prove that she is a leader.
She disciplines herself so that she can
succeed at her goals."
I asked her to give me an example, and
she began to tell me about my grand
mother.
Mygrandmotherwasastrong woman,
my mother said. She said my grand
mother was practically self-educated,
and, iiK)re importantly, she educated my
nnottrer on how to find strength within
herself.
"Your grandmother is mybest example
of a strong woman. She reared three cM-
dren practically onherown.Moreimpor-
tantly, she taught me to believe in my
self," my mother said.
My mother said that when she was
young she had polio, and that one leg had
been shorter than the other.
My grandmother never let her use her
handicap as an excuse. She encouraged
my moti«r to stand and walk as tall and
straight as anyone else. She made her
practice walking straight and steady with
a book on her head. She made her run and
play just as the other little kids did. She
made my mother believe in herself.
Eventually, all of the hard work paid
off. Before the end of my mother's senior
year in high school she had pdayed a
varietyofsports.9iehadrun track, played
basketball and joined the cheerieading
team. She had even become captainof the
cheerieading teanv
She was also in the honor society, the
Beta Qub and served as co-editor of the
school newspaper. As my mother's list of
accomplishments continued, I enjoyed
listening to each word and syllable.
This experience had taught my nwther
a valuable lesson. She learned there is no
excuse for not succeeding; the orJy ex
cuses are the ones you make for yourself.
My mother's story of how she over
came polio, withmygrandmother'shelp,
empowered me with its wisdom. It was a
lesson about strength, overcoming ad-
veraty, and learning to succeed.
This story influenced me to dedicate
my life to becoming the best at every
thing I do.
And I have worked hard to prove this
lesson to myself over the years. In middle
school, I became athletic, although I had
weak ankles. I forced myself to run each
day. I attended volleyball camps and
aerobics clctsses, all to strengthen my
euikles. Using my mother's life story as an
inspiration, I succeeded at my goal.
I played volleyball for two seasons on
the scl^l team, and I was elected most
valuable player for both seasons. I had
believed in myself and proven thatlcould
succeed.
I now recognize that strength comes
from believing in yourself.
From then on, I madea corxsdouseffort
to aim for success, and to work hard at
becoming a stronger person. I tried hard
to be like my strong mother and grand
mother.
And today, thanks to the influence of
my mother's story,with my grand
mother's help, I still aim to believe in
myself, knowing that I a«H succeed.