DESCRIBE YOUR CHILDHOOD IN A NUTSHELL
Attending University Heights HS was one of the best things that could have happen to me… That’s where I can begin, when reflecting on my childhood. Every teenager needs some type of direction, a sense of community and guidance that will help them stir their lives in the right direction. Attending UHHS encouraged my knack to strive for more. I learned to be patient and plan for the future. I learned how to strategize, so that I can obtain goals, and I learned to understand that education is the best tool to success and no one can tell me differently. However, the ironic quality of my learning process was ignorance. I never once thought that there would be stumbling blocks, I always saw the goals that I strived to obtain and never once considered that obstacles would stand in the way, and believe me, there were many. Some of the hardships were self inflicted and others were just inevitable. The unavoidable is a common story that far too many people share, that I don’t want to embellish: living in a single parent household- ok whatever, life goes on… On the other hand, having a child when I was eighteen, without graduating from college; that was a self inflicted ‘delay’. No need to add that it was a mistake because I love my son and I have no regrets, I just had no idea what life would be like raising young boy- ‘ignorance.’
FELICIA's BEAUTIFUL SON
TELL US ABOUT ADVERSITY YOU HAVE OVERCOME AND HOW.
Ignorance became my driving force; I knew that I wasn’t going to be just another minority on public assistance, collecting food stamps and having my rent paid as a means of life. NO WAY! When my son was of daycare age, I enrolled in a local college and went to school full time and obtained my undergraduate degree in three years. Good riddance to the Department of Social Service. During that time, I got a job as a waitress and I went back to my home base @ UHHS and applied for a position as School Aide and was hired immediately. At that time I learned my career path and decided to become an educator. I had direction! There was a light at the end of the tunnel and it was bright! Once I obtained my first degree I went on to become a teacher and working with a diverse group of students was my ultimate learning experience. I found that kids thrive off of transparency. Nothing should be sugar coated, especially when someone works with teens. I was a young black female, living in the same community, and I experienced some of the hardships they encountered, but I persevered. That ‘real’ image revealed to my students that they too could do it! I was and I still am a pillar in eyes of the young, who seek direction. The beauty is, I once shared the same unawareness and craved for some type of guidance to be successful.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REACH THOSE GOALS?
My life experiences compelled me to seek an additional degree. I received my first master’s degree and went on to teach part-time as an Adjunct Professor. I decided to teach at the two colleges I graduated from. That made my success so much more rewarding because giving back is just as fulfilling as receiving. While teaching at three different schools and meeting professional and self motivating people, I decide to seek another master’s degree, so that I can achieve the credentials to become a Principal. That goal was accomplished in 2007. In 2008 I was hired as an Assistant Principal for the New York City Department of Education.
DESCRIBE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF FELICIA.
My day consist of organizing various departments, tackling a multimillion dollar budget, and making sure that compliance deadlines are met. However, that’s not the most significant part of my day. The most important aspect of my day is making sure my students have ‘direction’, so that they too can be successful. I also want to add, that the paramount of success is not a title, nor the amount of money a person makes – I mean money does help a lot. Nonetheless, what makes an individual successful is by being strong under toughest circumstance. Remain steadfast and determined, and everything you ask for will come to existence. Don’t be judgmental; even the most successful person faces hard knocks. Be a leader, selfless, and open to setbacks -they only make you wiser. To recap, I was a teenage mom, on public assistance, living in the ‘hood’. I have a loving son, three college degrees, I own my own house, I will be in another leadership position in the future and most importantly I’m blessed. I also still have my wonderful students- past, present, and future and I am determined that I will try my best to support any student that crosses my path. It may be in the form of finding their ‘direction’ or it could be on the basis of ‘ignorance’ yet there is a common cliché I like to ponder over and that is ignorance is bliss…
When Melody finishes school she hopes to start her own youth program focusing on fashion and the arts. She does whatever she puts her mind to. She is full of life and enjoys making people laugh. We wish this social butterfly much success in her future endeavors. 
