Confessions of a Single Parent (Actress)

Today, I was awakened with a memory about two places that could have either pushed me to where I am now, or they could have pushed me on an entirely different trajectory. This memory reminded me that words have power and that teachers and/professors can use their power for good or for harm. This is for anyone who was told they were not good enough and for those who were relegated to the sidelines or even worse rendered silent. The first place that taught me this lesson was my high school, Mother McAuley. First, let me say that the opportunities and programs available at this school were amazing. But there was also a door, an invisible one that allowed some to participate and some to be left out. When it came to students of color there were hardly any. In fact there were only three of us in the honors program. The first thing I did was audition for the school musical. Now I was told, "You are probably not going to get cast because they never cast Black students." Well no mat...

Today, I taught a great class. One of the discussions centered on honesty and relationship building. Then that leaped directly into goals and the ability to do better or wanting better. This made me realize that society is filled with broken people who are unable to get to their dreams and if you are not careful they will run ramshod through yours. If you let them. First let me define what I mean by the term "brokenness." It is a state of being where one continues to experience trauma because they have not sought professional help or because they continue to repeat the trauma, which then creates a cycle of broken relationships, unaccomplished goals, and unachievable growth. Often, we have someone or a few soomebodies who fit this description as a friend or as a family member. Sometimes we even encounter them in an intimate relationship or as a parent. In the artistic world they can manifest as peers who simply can never get out of their own way and every obstacle they...