The Must Read- Queen

So this one is the must read and I was going to save her for the end but I couldn't help myself. This young lady has changed my life forever...
At the age of 14, a young Nigerian girl boarded an airplane with her siblings and headed to America. They arrived in Denver, CO on Christmas Day. This would be the first time she would see a mountain and snow. The trip would be the easiest part of her journey. When Queen was three years old she witnessed her mother die during child birth and at the age of nine, her father left her in Africa to care for the family while he established a life in the United States.

She would start as a freshman in high school a few weeks later. Her hair was faded and she had nothing but a pair of shorts and a black shirt to her name. Imagine starting in a school, not being able to speak the language and be from an entirely different culture and part of the world? I take so much for granted...

She spent her time studying and teaching herself English and within two months she was fluent in the language. Not only can she speak English fluently and better than most but she can speak French, Ebow and broken English. Queen has made such an impact in my life and when she graduates she will take a little piece of my heart with her.

She takes care of her 8 younger siblings, two of which are severely handicapped, and is the most humble, strong person I have ever met. She doesn't look at what she has gone through as an obstacle, she looks at it as her life and what she has to get through every day. Queen walks three miles to school and works at McDonald's at the airport on the weekends. She finds time to give back to her community and her church and she maintains a 3.8 grade point average. She is involved in the schools debate team, student council and college for every student.

One of my greatest memories was when I was able to spend the afternoon shopping with her for an interview outfit. I took her to Cherry Creek Mall, which she had never been too, and bought her a cami, necklace, earrings and we stopped by Starbucks and got a coffee. I maybe spent $50 on her total. She graciously accepted the gifts and in her shy voice was almost embarrassed. I told her that it was my pleasure to be able to get those things for her and she looked back up to me and said that no one had ever spent that much on her in her whole life. Holding back tears, I gave her a big hug and we started the journey back to her house.

I also had the pleasure of taking her to her interview at UCCS for CLC. This was a moment I will never forget either. We spent the afternoon down at UCCS and had such a great time. Running into old friends, introducing her to different staff and to top things off she rocked her interview. On the way home, she was so excited about attending UCCS and was thrilled about the day and how she did. She asked me what she was going to do about moving into campus because she knew her dad wouldn't help...I looked at her and said "I will make sure you have a team of people helping you." She smiled and thanked me for everything. About 20 minutes from her house she receives a phone call and it is her younger sister crying. Her dad had been mean to her and of course Queen started to cry. She looked at me and said "sometimes words hurt." Queen's father doesn't understand the importance of going to college and doesn't think it is important especially for women (remember where they are from). When I dropped her off at her dark, enclosed house, I put my head down and started to bawl. On the way home, I was trying to boost her confidence and be her own personally cheerleader because she deserved the world at that moment but couldn't hold it in any more. I pulled away and got to thinking about my parents who have always been so supportive of me and started crying harder. I couldn't imagine having this wonderful experience that we had that day and not be able to go home and talk to my parents about it.


If you have supportive parents, thank them. Not everyone is that fortunate...

This past Sunday, Queen called me to tell me she had been awarded CLC and I couldn't have been happier for someone in my whole life. Now she awaits her interview for Daniel's Fund this week...a full ride to college.

Queen grounds me, she inspires me to be so much more. Working with Queen has opened my eyes to so many things I am thankful for. I wouldn't be surprised if she never goes home and I semi adopt her during the holiday seasons when she goes to college. The other wonderful thing about Queen, is that she always puts others first in every way imaginable. Her life goal is to be an OB doctor and open a free clinic so women can be provided good health care and never have to go through what her mother went through in Africa.

Queen has made the biggest impact on my life. If I could take all of her pain and stress away I would in a heartbeat. I know that she will get to college and rule the world. I can't say enough...