Soon the baby became a toddler and it was time to walk, only she couldn't. Her feet turned in and her knees knocked together and she constantly fell.
This wee one began to see doctors who worked to stretch the tendons and strengthen the muscles to help her walk. She also wore oxford shoes with metal braces inside.
All was well until school started! At school, most of the other little girls had pretty, black Mary Jane shoes, cute go-go boots, Ked's sneakers, except the little girl. She still had large oxford shoes; ugly shoes! She wanted those pretty Mary Janes, but all the wanting and wishing didn't make that come true! Being different was hard.
Another student in class was different too. It was 1965, and, up until that year, the children with lighter skin were separated from the children with darker skin. This year was different. One little girl with beautiful dark skin and bunches of dark braids was allowed in the class. The two little girls became friends! Being different with someone else is much easier to bear!
As time went on, the shoes were no longer an important issue and children were allowed to go to school together regardless of differences. The two girls remained friends despite time and distance. Both grew up to follow different paths, one of motherhood and homemaking, the other of sports and career.
The moral of this story is that to be different is okay. We must learn to be brave, to rise above obstacles of the mind or imposed by others, and to follow our own path!
Be bold! Be brave! Be different!
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| Janice and I in first grade |
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| Janice and I all grown up |
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| Dr. Janice Hilliard of Hilliard Creative Education & Development Solutions, LLC |
