The Struggle Continues 44 Years After The March on Washington

On the 44th anniversary of the March on Washington, I found myself defending higher education at the Brookings Institution Poverty in 2006 seminar held at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, DC. Mayor Bloomberg, the keynote speaker, say some of the stupidest things that I ever heard: paying poor children for class attendance and good grades. As a first-generation college graduate whose paternal and maternal grandparents were on welfare even although all four held full-time jobs, the mayor’s so-called opportunity program was the dumbest thing economically and socially for New York City because giving children money is immoral. Regardless of social ranking, you were supposed to go to school for your own betterment. Since Bloomberg liked espousing the virtues of capitalism, let me break it down. Even though his opportunity fund was privately funded, that $50 million was a one-time deposit and all future income streams would be publicly raised. The fundamental problem with publicizing this program was that the parents would be doubled-taxed. For example, in FY2006 the parents’ property taxes were allocated to the school district which gave their child $500 for each standardized test and another $500 for perfect attendance. Say, that the kid passed all four parts of the merit assessment tests and achieved perfect attendance thereby receiving $2500. That $2500 would be reported as income earned by the child on his parents’ FY2006 tax form that they filed in FY 2007. That same $2500 would be taxed by the federal government again into perpetuity. Though well-meaning Mayor Bloomberg’s opportunity program was in direct violation of capitalism which was laissez faire of not allowing the federal government to intervene!

Seek and Ye Shall Find

Recently my preoccupation of women receiving invitations to join select clubs got the better of me (I am already a member of one but this one was more exclusive than mine; and, all of the time I wondered what they had that I did not. At age 30, I was an economist with two degrees earned by age twenty-five and possessed and was active in many social service organizations because higher education was my calling. I had even met some women who were members though they were in their mid-fifties.) Since I lived only three blocks from the headquarters I decided to walk in the drizzle during Saturday evening. During the trek I bypassed the nondescript building which was a sure sign that if I missed its importance then it really was not important in the first place. Returning home, one of a group of lost German tourists asked me for directions to their hotel off of Rhode Island Avenue, NW and I kindly guided them back to their destination. At the end of the journey they waive goodbye. Finally, making it to my apartment, I understood that I was seeking the wrong kind of attention and that experience made me realize the real reason why I would make a perfect for this and any organization: I had goodwill, kindness, and a sure sense of direction.

More Than Just Window Shopping!

Perusing the racks at the CUSP Georgetown store during its advertised luncheon (well, it’s more informal than that), makes me comfortable being around semi-luxury clothes. This was not always the case. In my Banana Republic working days, I felt ashamed of my working class origins (I never saw anything over $250 in a mall before!); Although still married to the sales rack (you’d find the best stuff on sale at Neiman Marcus and Saks!), I successfully managed to overcome it. Though I occasionally splurge on an item, I am still a bargain hunter at heart. While looking at certain prices (a $350 dress would net me an entire Ann Taylor suit and Marmi shoes or an entire New York & Company slack collection), I did love the $750 gold sequin dress which’ll make me look like Tina Turner! :)

Sage

Sage (n): a very wise man; especially an old man respected for his wisdom, experience, etc.

Sage advice
Helps the future steer clear of vice
So that they do not make the same mistakes twice
And live life without strife

Imparting my knowledge like my ancestors, the griots
So that the younger generation can keep it thorough for tomorrow
Dispensing my wisdom
Reaching everyone like the prism’s spectrum
Education and truth are my sanctums
Because when they know better
They do better

Dignity

Dignity is indispensable
To be invincible
It’s impossible to be respected
When your morals have been ejected
We need to correct it
Instead of neglect it
So when life gets hectic
We’ll arise as expected

It's Not the Kids, It's the Adults

The ignorance behind paying children for good grades being constantly proliferated throughout the media will cripple our society because kids will expect cash payment for every good deed. Honesty, integrity and morality are not for sale. Therefore, instead of fighting with nonsensical people, I’ll use this blog to espouse positive solutions to help children become better. Remember, they are our future!

Embracing all of Life's Possibilities

Embrace (verb): to readily accept.

I have embraced turning 30 with such a fervor that, I have no intention to be 18, 21, or 25 again. Finally I have a job in my major and am self-sufficient. Why go through it just to change some things. My goal is to be a mentor to the younger generation and fight for better access to opportunities. Education is the reason why I am here and I want to extend that to those who come behind me. During my fourth decade on earth, I will endow my book scholarship to ensure that other first-generation college students can afford books since they now costs in excess of $500 per semester. That’s a huge burden for many whose parents can barely afford life’s essentials let along lofty collegiate expectations. However, obtaining a college degree is indispensable in today’s society; therefore, it is imperative to provide a means of funding for these students since they are our future!

Hustle & Muscle: Being the Change That I Want to See in This World

Hustle (v.i.): to work, or act rapidly or energetically.

Muscle (v.): to make one’s way by sheer force.


During the previous two weeks, I have been passively waiting to witness this life-changing epiphany that comes with turning thirty years old; but have realized that in the words of Ghandi I must be the change that I want to see in this world. Nothing gets done by being on the sidelines and my economist is proof positive of that. I remember working numerous temporary jobs, scrapping money together to afford Greyhound bus fare and Independence Air tickets to fulfill my dreams by taking the BLS and BEA Assessment exams and spending days on end at the public library applying for jobs, reading trade materials and brushing up on MS Office skills. Oftentimes, I struggled financially and emotionally as I saw my peers ascend the corporate ladder (so I thought). During these years, I had two checking accounts in arrears and bad credit. However, holding steadfast to the dream of becoming an economist, I persevered. These adversities though leaving me battled-scarred has also molded me into an impenetrably steely resolved woman who can out-hustle and muscle and withstand anything and everything! And, this is how I will enter my thirties!

Self-Examination at Age 30

I am so happy that a person has read my blog and has considered me to apply for an online commentary blog job! That’s an honor because all I try to do is remain positive and optimistic in the face of adversity. My blog uplifts not berates people.

Honestly, I am apprehensive about applying for this position because of my strong opinions on illegal immigration. I want to write about economics, women’s history and higher education (Women’s issues are an available topic); however, I will apply and see what happens.

However it makes me realize how important my interests are to me; and, has inspired me to write more blog material. One of my main motivations for writing this blog is disproving to certain people that I possess adequate writing skills; however, as I approach thirty, appeasing people is not even on my agenda. Now self-development is my focus. My thirties will represent a ten-year window of opportunity to accomplish everything that I want spiritually, emotionally and educationally. By age forty, I will be closer to holistic truth than I am now by eliminating the noise (fear, hate, anger) around me.

Marathon

Running and excelling at my own Fortune 500 firm is a marathon. Remember this’ll consume years of my life and I am intent upon putting my all into it. These elements to create the molecule called my business are school, creativity, and financial management. Attending UDC to strengthen my analytical knowledge will get me into Harvard, acing my work will enable me to win the GS-11 Economist promotion and a spot in the Aspiring Leaders Development Program.

Within two weeks, I will be thirty entering my fourth decade of life and with one-third of my life finished, I am seeking new challenges to grow and become a better person. During my first twenty-nine years on this earth, I have learned that quick fixes never work. Actually, I end up digging bigger holes over these misadventures but age and wisdom correct everything. Now I am more insightful about my future and more demanding of respect because I have earned it without stepping on people to advance (That’s big with me!).

Midterm Progress

Giving my fifth speech, I realize that I am halfway through my first manual. It gives me a lot of confidence to go farther. Since I will celebrate my thirtieth birthday in Miami, maybe I should email the local club to give it there. Throughout this year, I have conducted thorough self-examination on how I want to live out my fourth decade on this earth. I want to become a philanthropist through my book scholarship, an investor with a multi-million dollar portfolio by age 39, a wife and mother, a doctor and a homeowner.

Adventures in Interviewing

Since my boss did not explicitly say that I would automatically receive my promotion, I started interviewing to secure my raise. During a one week period, I had three interviews and here were the summaries:

July 17, 2007

I interviewed for the economist position with another federal agency but scratch it off because of the 20 minute walk (It was too dependent upon the 71 bus.). My boss questioned me about my three-hour absence. Well, that would not happen Wednesday because the next one is off of L’Enfant Plaza.

July 18, 2007

This interview went way better than the other one because I did not have to hike 20 minutes to and from the appointment (Sidebar: DC Mayor Adrian Fenty was at the Greenleaf Recreational Center, the very one I pass en route to my interview, to endorse Barack Obama. How cool was that! At least there was not a tragedy. :). After my afternoon break, I will type and mail my thank you letters.

July 25, 2007

The interviewer gave me the creeps during our interview. I did not want to work for him because he gave weird pauses and openly challenged my decision to become an Economist with “When do you think you determine a raise? (Hey, watch already!). I answered all of his questions but that was the second time that I felt that the interview was confrontational. However, regarding the regression analysis, I gave him an advanced answer which brought me back into form. At the conclusion of the interview, he told me that he wanted a cleaner version of my resume besides what USAJOBS gave him. Afterward I sent him a copy then I divulged all of the goodies to my friend who called during the interview and left a voicemail.

Opportunity Journal Entry #10: Transferring

During the http://www.blogger.com/ snafu, a lot of opportunity has come my way. I have lined up interviews at both the Washington, DC and Cleveland, Ohio educational opportunity centers to review my options. The first meeting produced an extremely unlikely outcome: applying to the DC state college. Please read the passage below:

July 9, 2007

Initially I thought that the DC EOC meeting was nearly a huge waste of my time because the counselor already told me what I’ve already known about researching scholarships. However, during this time I contemplated about whether or not to attend AU because my goal was to complete my master’s thesis and if I cannot do this then I would enroll at the state school and reviewed my options. Yet, the professor was tenured professor so I would remain here (I had just emailed her about her research specialties because I wanted to get as many references as possible. Once again, it looked like I might be taking three courses this summer in order to assemble my panel.

July 10, 2007

Last night I wrote out my plan to drop AU because it offered me an opportunity to conduct research and saved me a lot of money and grief. My AU advisor emailed me about meeting to which I responded that I could see her next Tuesday at 11:30am. By then I would had requested all of my transcripts. Since my transcript request had not gone through because the address was not changed, I’d probably would have to submit it by mail or fax. Well, at least I should receive it by late July well ahead of the August 2nd, deadline. I will be accepted!

Traveling to the state college helped me a lot especially when my financial aid counselor told me that it had not processed fall aid yet. Immediately upon returning to my office, I filed my finanical aid and added the school. Therefore, by next week, the school should receive it and my aid can be calculated. In addition, I spoke to the scholarship coordinator and left a voicemail for the person who has the foundation scholarship applications. Having returned from typing thank you letters, I realized the abundance of opportunity available. Now I will cancel my attendance at tomorrow’s Toastmasters meeting because I needed to meet with Edna to obtain those scholarship applications. This was important besides my next speech was within two weeks!

The divisional manager emailed me saying that his boss approved the majority of my fall tuition grant which I was grateful for but if I did not receive a satisfactory answer from Professor Reynolds regarding my master’s thesis then I would resubmit my training request. Since my entire academic year costs $3,000, of course, they would approve this! :)

July 11, 2007

I am putting everything together. During this time, I will obtain more information, prepare my transfer credit defense by copying syllabi and aligning them with the state college's courses, and creating a budget to pay for all of my books even though the agency will pay for it.

During my commute, I initially thought about taking a couple of CLEP courses (specifically American history) to save money. Then I realized that this method could had been used to compensate for the lack of transfer credit. My goal was to graduate in 2009 debt free just in time for Harvard! Furthermore, I will register for either an independent study or a research seminar every semester to strengthen my analytical ability and publish material. By graduation, I will have eight papers. Ask Dr. Steadman about taking these courses each semester.

This three-day saga is far from over but it has taught me the importance of resiliency (the meeting never materialized because I was in a meeting when she called), time management, and keeping my eyes peeled for all future opportunities such as next week's slate of events. I will keep you posted!

Drive

Drive (v.t.): to force to go; push forward; impel; to force to work, usually to excess.

Genealogy fuels my drive to outperform everyone. It’s the reason behind applying for GS-11 Economist positions because I cannot be stopped! This drive propels me to a BA, London, MBA and traveling numerous times to take both the BEA and BLS Economist assessment exams multiple times.

During these moments, doubt often crept into my mind especially while working temporary jobs because taking off work meant losing money. However, I had this vision to become an Economist. This conviction is similar to Robert Kiyoshi who slept on friends’ couches while amassing his empire; and, after everything that had happened to me I would not exchange any hardships because the setback made me stronger producing a steely resolve directly attributed to my drive.

Furthermore, I am taking a more active role in assembling my master’s thesis because if I am paying that kind of money then I will research my thesis! I’ve called the secretary about who has taught ECON 505 (it happen to be an adjunct faculty who hasn’t taught at AU). Disappointed I tell her my frustration and she asks if I have an advisor to which I respond No. She then tells me that my advisor is Professor Reynolds whom I’ll email because haste makes waste.

Career in Motion

I have completed my component and remembered yesterday’s journal entry about being grateful for the opportunity to work as an Economist. Within economics as one of the hottest majors around and there are only 500 slots available, therefore, I am mindful of the fact that I have this plum position and am working in my major!

Good news: Another agency has deemed me best qualified both the its domestic and merit economist positions meaning that I should receive an interview by mid-July. I am so happy because by the end of July I will have at least three economist offers.

The Making of a Mentor

I was so happy to have met one of the Cleveland State University Urban Affairs DC Seminar yesterday at the alumni event because it enabled me to realize that I possessed the ability to become a mentor. During our conversation I asked her the group's composition and she commented that this year was evenly split between undergraduates and graduates (There were even two were PhD students!). Then I inquired if any one of them wanted to work in DC to she replied yes. I told her about USAJOBS, the federal government's job site in addition to several others. She gave me her business card and throughout last night and earlier this morning, I located resources to help her Urban Affairs students acquire jobs and schooling. This meeting allowed me to use my prior research knowledge of obtaining greater Cleveland higher educational resources for poor, first-generation college students into action. Though I supplied advice, personally, staying and working in Cleveland then relocating to Washington, DC would be better because they would had acquired the requisite experience and skills to excel. That was how I obtained my economist position. As a graduate student I worked as an Information Officer with the Cuyahoga Support Enforcement Agency honing my Medicare and food stamps transfer skills. When I relocated to Washington, DC to work as an economist in the transfer payment section, I hit the ground running!

Who Defines Classiness?

Diana Ross’ comments while receiving the BET Lifetime Achievement Award about being classy are timely and important but I am concerned about what outside forces compromising the art form. Yes, I have never sagged my pants, called myself a nigger, or acted immature but we, the rap crowd has to make the decision not someone else. Also I feel that Al Sharpton’s comments about the marketplace are ill-fitted because there are many positive forces such as Kanye and Common who will be coming out with albums. We must control our communities’ dialog! Furthermore, class is relative because how can you hail from the projects and spent time incarcerated exude upper-middle class sensibilities? I am a member of an upper-class invitation-only organization and it would never have thought to invite her to attend our annual convention. Finally, it is no mistake that the black scholarship fund honored Aretha instead of Diana Ross because Aretha's father graduated from LeMoyne College, an HBCU, while Diana was raised in the notorious Brewster Projects!

Escalating

I awoke late because I did set my alarm clock. Also something happened to my tv around 1am.
Throughout this morning, I thought about being a mentor and what advice I would give to the Urban Studies students. A woman next to me had the Washington Center Internship bag which gave me a starting point. I, too, interned there and this experience gave me the assurance that I could become an economist.

Since I am 29 years old and most of these students are in their twenties, I can relate to them. Actually I feel that serving as a mentor for TWC would help me gain clarity on my life’s purpose. Motivating and encouraging people are important. Plus I like to distribute positive energy (as I have done earlier this morning when Uncle Tom posts something extremely mean and disheartening about blacks having a lower graduation rate.). His negative post pushes me to graduate from American University now because I refuse to be stereotyped! (For the record, another blogger came right after him and posted the "outperforming" quote, thereby, making me feel so much better. And, I need it because...

I have made and read two ignorant black women and this is not even noon! First, during my morning break, I gave this young woman directions to Strayer college. When we met again after my stroll, and upset that she had received dollar coins yelled at the hot dog man saying that “She had to work hard for her money and that she was not one of those people with the things around their heads.” Then whispered into my ear that “We were not white.” Oh Lord! Afterward, I read Essence’s interview with Monique who was extremely ignorant proclaiming that the word nigger has not meaning; and, when she got to heaven that is what she would call her ancestors. The cherry on top was that she proclaimed black people as too sensitive (Wait a minute! Monique calling us ignorant. She accepted the word fat so did that make her a fat, black nigger?). That’s ignorant! Why me?

The thing that got me was Monique’s accusing black people about being too sensitive. She made this remark about why we should stop worrying about who was calling us nigger (My problem was her ignorance!) and focus on improving our crumbling schools (With that kind of vocabulary she displayed, that was the reason why so many fell through the cracks). What a cop out!

It is stuff like this that cannot be ignored! Besides, I feel that this pervasive ignorance will not uplift anyone especially in the black community! Okay, I confess that at times I can get sensitive but this is ridiculous! This is not humorous!

Regardless, of their narrow-mindedness, I still push on, escalating to a higher station, and more moral clarity in life!

The Right Season

Since there are too many scheduling problems, I will not be traveling to Brazil during my birthday after all. However, I will travel during fall break. This saves me over $1263 which, I will save. Now I will book my Cleveland trip (but, of course, I will still call Ingenuity Cleveland and ask for packages.) and not fear any budgetary problems.

When I decided that this was not going to work, there was neither anger nor bitterness just the acceptance that this was not the right season. Furthermore, this indifference was directly attributed to financial empowerment. Since I established an emergency fund, there was no panic. Moreover, recent conversations with my family illuminated why I did not have to measure up to anyone. I had was the torchbearer and that was okay with me.

Opportunity Journal Entry #9: Moving On Up

I have been approved for my apartment! I am so happy because the search is over (although I am still looking at other apartments within the Friendship Heights area for price comparison purposes.). The rent is only $15 more than my current residence plus I do not have to spend any transportation money and can walk to the grocery store. That's cost savings. The lower rent allows me to afford furniture, a return trip to Cleveland, and my NBMBAA conference. I must admit that sitting in the apartment manager's office completing the paperwork without fear of my denied because of bad credit is liberating!

Now for some not so great news: Dropping out of mathematical methods for economists this summer, the AU course conflicts with UDC's calculus II and III meaning that this would have to wait until Spring 2008. Normally, this would have been disappointing, however, this presented another opportunity to take my time with calculus I and take calculus II at USDA since my Wednesdays are free. Also, it will allow me to save money which is my goal and I am still in contention of applying for a doctoral program just in case I exhaust all options here at AU.

Reading Educational Pathways magazine has inspired me to soar higher and not to waste time. Though I have always placed an extremely high premium on education (It's the reason why I am an economist today.), the articles highlighting black firsts in education motivated me to continue my educational pursuit with vigor! Now I have set some new achievement goals:

Complete AU by next year
Complete calculus III by first summer session
Complete my master's thesis (That's why I am in the MA program)
Retain my Omicron Delta Epsilon honor society distinction
Win one research scholarship

These goals will equip me with the necessary tools to be successfully both personally and professionally.