From The Editor

Plant a Seed, Create a Legacy

As I traveled this summer to Atlanta, Georgia on a family trip, I came to know quite a bit about my husband's paternal side of the family. His grandfather was a medical doctor and his grandmother held a bachelor's degree, serving her community as a librarian for several years. This was quite amazing to me considering that his grandfather would have been in his nineties had he still been alive. In the 1920's and 1930's, many African-Americans did not have the opportunity to even finish secondary school, let alone completing college with a famed doctoral degree.

I inquired more about my husband's family to find that both of his aunt's have Ph.Ds, as well as, one of their husbands. I dug deeper and learned that two out of three of my husband's cousins have already earned law degrees; the youngest is in his sophomore year of college.

It blew my mind to realize that one family, this family I'd joined with holy matrimony, had such an overflow of educational wealth. A stunning revelation-planting a seed, creating a legacy. The seed of education was planted over sixty years ago in the Styles family by a young man that dared to not only dream, but to live out a life that was almost unheard of for a African-American. When he stepped foot on that campus, actively partook of each lesson, and marched across the stage with his degree in hand, he planted a seed of excellence, a seed of determination, and created a legacy of success. This seed manifested itself in each of his children, and spread to their children's children until now the notion of higher education is not a thought, but a sure reality for each member of the family. Through Dr. Styles never had the opportunity to know any of his grand children, his legacy lives strong through each of them. Now that my husband and I have added one more Styles to the pack, I recognize that the driving force of higher education will live on strong in her as well.

So when you are with your family at your annual family reunion, weekly Sunday dinner, and special holidays, remember to keep each other lifted up. Give yourself a gentle reminder of those that have helped pave the way for you and be encouraged to press forward with your educational pursuits and career goals, so that you too can pave the way for others that will tread in your footsteps. As you embark on new journeys and conquer new territory, be confident in each seed you plant. For with each planted seed will become a family tree of great success.

Chantel Styles