The people who influenced my life during my childhood:

There are so many people throughout my life that have influenced me and helped shape me into the person that I am today.  To choose only 6 is a difficult task, but here goes: My mom (Rhonda), my sister (Jennifer), my grandmother (Helen), my grandmother (Wava), and my aunties (Susie and Judy).  My mother was there for me regardless of right or wrong.  She supported me in my music and dance even when it was financially difficult.  She encouraged me to pursue my passions and helped me up when I failed. My mother has always had unconditional love for me!  I always looked up to my only sister, Jennifer, who was 5 1/2 yrs older than me. She was the best babysitter and she used to play school, barbies, and whatever else I could convince her to do.  Jennifer was an amazing role model for me in early childhood education.  She taught me to make learning fun and she always enjoyed working with children.  My grandmother, Helen, was an inspiration, not only as a teacher, but also as a professional woman of her time.  She owned and operated the Southwest Child Care Learning Center from 1954 through 1992.  She deeply cared about the welfare and education of more than 4,000 children.  She left a life-long impression on all the children in her care, and all the people whose lives she touched.  At one time, she was the president of the Topeka Preschool Association and Woman of the Year for the American Business Women's Association.  She was a true pioneer in the early Childhood field.  She passed away in 2004, but she definitely had an impact in my life!  My grandmother, Wava, and my aunties, Judy and Susie were a big part of my life.  I spent a lot of time with each of these women and have had many great memories with each of them.  We always had a close family when I was a child and I spent a lot of time visiting with each of them.  I can remember grading papers with my Aunt Judy (who was an elementary teacher) and playing hair and makeup with my Aunt Susie.  I spent many summers at my grandparents house and my grandmother taught me many good lessons, moral values, and to be true to myself.  Each of the people that I discussed helped to influence and shape my life in different ways.  These are only a few of the people in my childhood, but they each have their own special meaning in my heart!