Aleace Courtney's Essay Submission
The Woman of Inspiration: Janice Courtney
The memories seem so, distant as I force my dreams to continue to replay. I struggle with the depth of my lost. If I could only turn back the hands of time? My dreams only last for a moment but the love, wisdom, integrity, and self-independence that she has incorporated in my life will live within me forever and always. My grandmother, the late Janice Marilyn Courtney, died when I was thirteen years old. She raised me for majority of my childhood and always consistently said that education, faith, and self-independence were the main things that I always won’t you to focus on. At a young age experiencing the death of a woman that was my mother figure was very traumatic situation. My wisdom over-shadowed my mourning process throughout the years. My grandmother suffered for over twenty five years with Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) and battled cancer for two years straight in both breast. When I was eleven, I began to develop the desire to always be the primary caretaker of her and soon I begin to do so. Besides all the circumstances she made sure I was always present at school, participate in after school activities, and most importantly achieve over and beyond in my studies each semesters.
Loved, may not have always been given to me directly when I was a child. I continue to get joy out of loving others and family members on a daily basis. My favorite quote daily is “When love is in the atmosphere life can seem so much greener”. Love is constantly expressed in my household. It is our base foundation for my family. Love is not only expressed in my household but it was installed in my heart. Genuinely being a caring individual brings warmth to my heart and solely the base of my personality. Wisdom is what I’ve inherited as young child. Wisdom has helped developed me too overcome all obstacles: becoming a mother at a young age, continuing my education beyond a high school diploma, working full-time while continuing my education in college and, most importantly staying in college despite my denied letters of admission to the Nursing School. The wise once said to me “Everything in life might not happen in the exact as order you intended on”. I’m a living witness through my storm of trial and error God has already worked out the direction of my education plans. It my job to follow the plans the Holy Spirit has invested in my life. I will not let others integrity over power his wisdom.
My self-independence appeared when I was faced with housing evictions and living at hotels periodically at a young age. I knew that I was going to gain the maturity aspect of being an adult. I’m in total control of my future gradating with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology by 2013 and continuing my education in nursing obtaining a BSN in 2014. Looking back into the past is painful but useful as a stepping block for my future. I use my pain mixed with determination not to fail on my mountain of success. My daughter will inherit Love, wisdom, integrity, and self-independence which is a growing process that she will established in her due season of life. My grandmother continues to lives on with her spirits throughout our generations. This is only the beginning and I claimed the victory I’m looking for the light at the end of my tunnel with success being the driven ego.