Chapter 10: Using Your Imagination (Laughter and Poetry)
Part 5: Being You
X. Using Your Imagination (Laughter and Poetry)
One of the easiest roles in life to play is yourself. As a matter of fact, no one can play the role of who you are as well as you can. By doing this, you are given the opportunity to be you, yourself and no one else but who you are. In this chapter, you will be given the chance to be you. Also, you will find lots of fun, poetry and laughter. If you look hard enough, you might even find yourself in many of the characters presented in the collection of 19 poems and short stories presented in this section. Much thought and creativity have been put into the development of this chapter to capture a true essence of our Bahamian culture and to provide something culturally humorous for you, the reader, to smile about. When you answer the questions, it is important that you use your imagination, think outside the box and have fun while doing it. Bahamians like to have fun and to enjoy themselves. Be that as it may, there is no better way to do so than through the hilarious final installment to the last chapter of this book. Enjoy!
Chapter 10
Silly Lily Open matching workbook questions
Silly Lily is a funny little girl.
She ties her hair in knots and curls.
She plays outside in her pajamas.
She sweeps the yard with a broom.
She consumes her ice cream with a fork and devours her chicken with a spoon.
Silly Lily is a Bahamian bred and born.
She likes Junkanoo music.
She wears colorful costumes that are torn.
She puts mayonnaise in her conch salad and dunks her conch fritters in Tamarind sauce.
She likes fried tomatoes in her salad which she eats vigorously, of course.
Silly Lily licks lemons lustily.
This she does all day long.
She never frowns no matter how sour the taste.
All she does is keep smiling and keep licking along.
Silly Lily is a native girl through and through.
She eats everything from guineps, sugar apples, dillies, Juju and plums.
When she isn't indulging in native cuisines or fruits,
she is seen sitting silently twitching and twiddling her thumbs.
Not many girls are like Lily. She is indeed one of a kind.
She is All Bahamian through and through.
Lilly likes being Bahamian.
What about you?
Irie Nuts Open matching workbook questions
The Rastafarian peddles his bicycle all around the town selling his Irie nuts. "Irie nuts, come get your Irie nuts! the Rastafarian yells. For only one dollar per bag, you can get as much as you want, and you don't even have to buy them at some fancy restaurant. Light brown, dark brown, even burnt if you wish, my nuts can be eaten however you wish.
Whenever you see me, you can call or wave to me. I would be gladly come to you, weather you're parked on the side of the road or waiting on a red light, I'll be happy to sell you my Irie nuts with a smile. Let me assure you that you won’t be disappointed. Their mouthwatering taste would no doubt be worthwhile.
Bahamian Jack Open matching workbook questions
I can walk the walk and talk the talk.
I once climbed Como Hill on Cat Island with my gal Jill.
I had a spill you know.
That’s why my crown got broke.
You might find it a joke.
Yes, I also got choked.
It was an embarrassing scene.
I never thought Jill could be so mean.
But then again, Jill was mean to me before.
I never told you,
But eons ago,
She packed my clothes and tossed them out the door.
That’s It! I’m Tired! Open matching workbook questions
Today was a day of excessive fun and laughter, joke and play.
From early morning to late sun down,
My friends and I were horsing around.
We went to Windsor Park to shoot marbles and to play ball;
When we were tired of that,
we went to Marathon Mall.
There we ate pretzels and fritters for lunch.
Then, we stopped at Solomon’s Grocery Store for some Crunch and Munch.
Me being the silly one,
I started dancing in the grocery aisles like some clown.
Then, all of a sudden,
My pants fell down.
Ha, ha, ha, my friends all laughed at me,
No big deal.
I tried to run away but slipped on an orange peel.
I was so embarrassed,
This I won’t deny.
Like a big boy,
I sucked it up and did not cry.
Later that day,
We made slingshots and made kites.
Then, we went bird hunting,
And I shot a dozen birds in flight.
I stuffed them in a bag and took them home for my mom to cook.
She was startled at the quantity
And shot me an appreciative look.
Fried bird I thought,
But that would have to wait.
My mom gave me a great big hug.
Then, I headed for the gate.
I skipped;
I hopped;
I spun top
And did cartwheels.
Sweat fell from the crown of my head to the bottom of my very heels.
I’m tired now.
Today, I really had lots of fun.
That’s it I’m tired, very tired.
Now my day is done.
Buddy the Bahamian Open matching workbook questions
What an awkward guy I thought. Everything about Buddy was unusual. His eyes were square-shaped, his hair resembled the colours of the Bahamian flag, his clothes were made out of pineapple skins and banana peals, and his shoes from coconut barks. When buddy spoke, it was quite obvious that he was all Bahamian through and through as his dialect was a typical example of Bahamianese, he enjoyed talking about Bahamian life, singing the national anthem and reminiscing about his days growing up on the family islands fishing on the dock, catching crabs, making bread in a rock oven and drinking switcher from a can. Although Buddy was thought to be an oddball by many who knew him, the one undeniable truth about this man is that he always stayed true to his Bahamian roots.
Farting Franny Open matching workbook questions
Franny is like a human farting whirlwind. No matter where she goes, she always lets it blow like the fierce winds of an uninvited hurricane, leaving her uninvited gassy scents everywhere. In school the other day, she made the entire classroom run outside. As everyone held their noses and ran like the wind, Franny laughed shamelessly and continued to pop one frightful fart after the next. After the first farting episode at school, the teacher, Mr. Sizzle, called her parents to discuss the incident. However, they only seemed to make matters worse, for they, too, seemed pleased to learn about what Franny had done. “We’re a family that likes to fart for fun. We fart all day long at home.” Franny’s father, Fred, guffawed. As the teacher stared in disbelief, he shot a glance at Franny. A moment later, she got up from her chair, popped another fart and ran. What chaos ensued as chairs and desks fell to the floor.
Mr. Sizzle was the first out the door. One-by-one the children followed as the scent of eggs and beans filled the air. Franny’s mother, Francene, yelled, “all you children get back in here.” Then, like a barrage of popping balloons, Fred and Francene joined in the farting fest, too. The situation was so out of control, Mr. Sizzle didn’t know what to do. “Call the fart exterminators, call the fart police here to the scene. This flatulent family must be quarantined.!. At the sound of Mr. Sizzle’s words, Fred, Franny and Francene headed for the gates. “Stop them! Stop them!” The teacher yelled. In a split second the farting family vanished like the invisible smelly wind escaping from their backsides, leaving behind the scent of rotten fish, onions and avocados to invade the nasal passages of Mr. Sizzle and his students. Oh, boy! That must have been unbelievably stink!
Frank the Frog Open matching workbook questions
Once upon a Bahamian island, there lived a frog named Frank. Frank was no ordinary frog. He could speak like a Bahamian, sing the national anthem and possessed an amazing reservoir of knowledge about Bahamian history. During the hot summer days, Frank would spend his time educating the other residents at Big Pond swamp. As they were quite studious students, all of the ducks, the turtles, the crabs, the birds, fishes and other frogs took keen interest in the wisdom he imparted.
While playing in the bushes one day, I stumbled fortuitously across a world of talking animals that I never knew existed. As I listened attentively, I was flabbergasted by the level of intellect and wisdom that Frank the frog imparted to his animal friends. Admittedly, this was the very first time I realized that even the Bahamian animals are unknowingly patriots. I won’t tell you what happened next, but I will only say this much. From that day to this day, my whole perception of animals have changed. When I need to know what I don’t know but should know or want to know, I just saunter down to the Big Pond swamp, where Frank the Frog could be seen holding class with all of his animal friends.
Floppy! You’re so Sloppy! Open matching workbook questions
You’re a clever, chestnut rabbit with enormous floppy ears.
Although you’re a very messy little eater, I really do not care.
When you eat your carrots or cabbages and drop them here, there and everywhere, you provide quite the entertainment for all to stop and stare.
You’re a ball of fluff and fur, a rollicking, frolicking friend.
You’re an energetic leaping hopper too.
You’re always knocking over your bowl of water.
Floppy, there’s none quite like you.
You’re Floppy, the sloppy bunny rabbit.
You’re as messy as messy can be.
No matter how many times I clean up your rabbit house, you’re always making more work for me.
Perhaps If I were to charge you for my cleaning services, you wouldn’t spend all of your time making such a mess.
But then again, you’re Floppy the sloppy bunny rabbit, the mess-making expert, who specializes in providing jobs in rabbit housekeeping.
Well, what else can I say?
I’m impressed.
Nosy Nancy Open matching workbook questions
Nancy is the nosy woman who lives next door.
She can tell you everyone’s business and so much more.
We call her the neighbourhood reporter.
She’s always looking for news.
No doubt, she’s a much better option to ZNS and Eye Witness evening news.
When Nancy brings you news, she’s always right.
You don’t have to second guess its credibility.
Every time, her story is airtight. Nancy never sleeps.
She works morning, night and noon, making her the better option to the daily Guardian, the Bahama Journal and the Tribune.
Nancy is one gossip queen.
Yet, she’s as sweet as can be.
She’s quite the charming hearsay seeker, whose well-known in every community.
Nancy knows everybody’s business but hers is seldom known.
While everyone is asleep in their beds at night, she’s up like a surveillance camera, capturing real-time footage from her bedroom window, catching gap seed on social media or talking on her phone about someone else’s business but never her own.
Autumn: Sometimes Naughty, Sometimes Nice Open matching workbook questions
Autumn has a personality like the weather. Sometimes she’s very naughty and sometimes she’s very nice. Truthfully, the transformations in her character are astonishing. Today, she’s kind and loving. Tomorrow, she’s likely to be cold and dismissive. Next week, she might be the combination of both hot and cold personalities. Truth be told, one never knows what to expect from Autumn due to her odd, unpredictable ways that changes like the four seasons of the year.
Growing up with Autumn, my younger sister, I’ve learned that no matter how well you think you know people, you will never know everything about them. Realizing this truth, it is very important to learn to love and appreciate people for who they are. Looking back to the times when autumn was just a little girl, I can recall those moments when she was just the sweetest sibling in the world. Sometimes she bought me candy from school, drew pictures of me and our pet dog Rugged Island. Other times she would give me big hugs or jump on my back and tell me that I was the best big brother in the world. Of course, there were days when Autumn would just sit alone on the floor and play with her Bahamian-made straw dolls, not wanting to be bothered by anyone. These are a few of the many fond memories I have of her.
Despite the changes that we all experience as we grow older, I never imagined that Autumn would ever become so temperamental. Nevertheless, I am sure that that sweet little sister that I once knew is still somewhere hiding inside of her waiting to re-emerge. Well, as far as I know, Autumn has been through a lot in her life, and it is these circumstances that sometimes determine the weather or climate of our seasons.
Right Church! Wrong Pew! Open matching workbook questions
Some say Sally is such a drama queen. Truthfully, she is as short as her patience. On many occasions, Pastor Frank talked to her about her unforgiving ways, but no matter how many times he tried, nothing seemed to work. For years, Sally attended Jump for Joy, a non-denominational church on East Street. Unfortunately, Sally’s rivals, twin sisters, Sandra and Sara attend the same church. These 3 share a bitter rivalry, stemming all the way back to their high school days when Sandra and Sara, pulled a very nasty, embarrassing prank on her.
Well, could you imagine being told to sit down by your friends, only to discover moments later that you’re crazy clued to your chair? Even worse, could you imagine trying to get up quickly from your chair to return to class upon hearing the bell, only to have your blouse and skirt ripped from behind, leaving parts of your undergarments exposed? As you all know, high school for some of us is saturated with painfully unpleasant experiences. This is one of those experiences that Sally has never been able to put behind her. Consequently, she became the laughingstock at school that day which left her with unhealed lingering scars from the incident. Since then, Sally vowed to make those troublesome twin sisters pay. No matter how long it took, Sally was determined to give Sandra and Sara a taste of their own medicine.
As church was about to start, persons were still filing in and taking their seats. Among the noticeable late comers were Sally, Sandra and Sara. In their haste to find their seats, both Sandra and Sara inadvertently bumped into Sally, knocking her into a pew of onlookers. Of course, the twins chuckled uttering not a word of apology. No doubt, this angered Sally as the excruciating memories of that agonizing incident in high school consumed her with such rage like a burning fire. Then, in a flash Sally jumped quickly to her feet. Moments later, she took the 2 bottles of Goombay Punch soda she was holding, shook them up, opened them and tossed their contents all over the white dresses Sandra and Sara were wearing. Next, she snatched 2 bottles of ice-cold water from an old lady and an old man who were standing near by and threw the water into their faces. Surprisingly, others in the audience threw their water and other beverages at them as well.
What a circus church turned out to be that day. Screams of Laughter could be heard as persons tried to contain themselves but were unsuccessful. Church members fell out of their seats and rolled on the floor laughing. As for Pastor Frank, he laugh so much, while holding his stomach, he raced to the restroom where a date with diarrhea awaited him. Sally threw up her hands in triumph as the twins headed for the exits crying and hanging their heads in shame. As they ran, they tripped and fell into the puddle of liquid on the floor. In a loud voice, Sally screamed, “finally my scars are healed.”
Catching Gap Seed Open matching workbook questions
It is so amazing how such a simple phrase as catching gap seed has become such a large part of the Bahamian cultural vocabulary. Interestingly, Bahamians and their creative word play have given longevity to the coinage by attaching meaning to it. While growing up, I always listened to the conversations of older Bahamians daily who often laughed and joked about going out to catch some gap seed and to bring it back. Before I really understood what it meant, I used to think that the older folks were talking about the seeds of a fruit or a plant. To satisfy my curiosity, I decided to ask a very wise old man who lived up the street to show me what gap seeds look like or teach me how to catch them. Oh, how he laughed and laughed at me. As he laughed, he threw his hands in the air, fell from his recliner and rolled on the floor as if my question were one big joke that had him in stiches.
Admittedly, I never felt so embarrassed in all my life. I knew the old man was laughing at me, so I just laughed along with him. The more he giggled, the more I giggled, too. When the laughter subsided, I helped the old man to his feet and assisted him to get back into his chair. When he was able to speak, he apologized and told me to fetch him a cup of water from the kitchen. After drinking the water, he explained to me that catching gap seed was the act of gathering information for spreading gossip and that people who are gap-seed catchers are meddlesome news bugs, always looking for news. Well, excuse my ignorance. You can laugh at me all you want. I’ll just laugh right back at you. It was not a fruit or a plant as I first thought.
Making Sense out of Nonsense Open matching workbook questions
If people talked nonsense all the time,
Maybe life would not be such a burden to bear.
Bahamians would learn to let their hair down more,
Worry less and live without a care.
But then again, life isn’t all fun and games.
Sensible thinking is what we used to make sense of it all.
Bahamians take this part of life seriously,
Even when they stumble,
Even when they fall.
In truth the reality is,
Bahamians must learn to create a balance,
This I think they know.
Putting it all in perspective is important,
To make sense out of nonsense,
No matter where you go.
Thank You Ma’am for the Pepper in My Jam Open matching workbook questions
You must have made this jam especially for me. It makes my mouth tingle and I like it. Oh, yes, it has pepper in it. I couldn’t have asked for a better ingredient. On the island of Andros, there is this lady who makes the most amazing jams. Just the other day, I bought a bottle of mango jam from her. To my delight, I discovered a hint of pepper in the delicious substance. When I took the first bite, I couldn’t stop eating it. Before I knew it, I had eaten the entire jar with some homemade baked bread. Honestly, this jam is a must-have. I can’t wait to buy another bottle made in the kitchen of that beautiful woman from Andros. Bahamians enjoy eating spicy foods, including jams and other spreads, too. Thank you, ma’am, for the pepper in my jam.
The Mouse in My Souse Open matching workbook questions
This morning I cooked a big pot of chicken souse. I was so eager to get a taste. It had been a while since I’d eaten the popular dish. Let me tell you, when I prepared the souse, I went the extra mile. I didn’t spare any ingredients: potatoes, carrots, onions, limes, pepper, chicken and other spices were added to the pot. While cooking the souse, its aroma saturated the atmosphere of my home. As the scent teased and tantalized my nasal passages, My mouth watered. All I could think about is the tasty cuisine on my taste buds, complemented by some freshly baked rolls from 3’s bakery.
Suddenly, the phone rang. I paused stirring the pot, forgetting to return its cover before walking away. When talking on the phone, I heard a loud squeal followed by a loud splash. When I dropped the phone to investigate, I saw a mouse thrashing and dashing about frantically in the hot pot of boiling souse. Unfortunately, the mouse suffered a fate worse than the chicken souse at first destined to be devoured by my pearly whites and palate. As I gazed at the little critter in the pot, I thought to myself that just maybe, just maybe, the poor little mouse wanted the souse much more than I ever did.
Butting Heads with the Bully Open matching workbook questions
Big Bradley, as he is called, is my neighbour next door. He is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 250 pounds with a very mean-looking face. Because of his size and intimidating looks, he is notorious for bullying the younger boys in the area. Every morning, he stands on the corner of Rugged Island Street and wait for the boys to pass that way for school to take their lunch money. As this is the only way to get to school, everyone has to pass him. Well, Big Bradley is no easy guy. You’d better give him your money or he’ll give you a black eye. On many occasions, I watched him beat up boys and made them cry who refused to surrender their cash. Bradley was too big and too bad, so I always gave him my money. When other children at school had lunch, many who lived in my neighbourhood had nothing to eat because Big Bradley took it away. It was no fun having to watch the other children eat lunch while the worms did back flips in my belly every day. Truthfully, the hunger became unbearable, so I decided to do something about it. I was not going to allow myself to be bullied by Big Bradley anymore. If it meant for me to be beaten up or to get a black eye, I did not care anymore. Something had to give.
When I arrived home from school today, I spent the entire evening convincing myself that everything was going to be all right. Admittedly, I was afraid of what Bad Brad could do to me; however, I was determined to stand up to him once and for all. When morning came, I did my pushups, took a shower, ate breakfast, got dressed and headed off to school. When I arrived at the corner, I saw Bradley picking on boys and beating them up as he always did. Well, when my time came, he demanded me to empty my pockets and I refused. Being angered by my refusal, he snatched me by my collar, twisted my arm and showed me his fist. Although I almost wet my pants, I kept my composure. As quick as a flash, I pulled away from him and started to run away. Then, he turned and ran after me. “Come back here. He yelled. “No, you bully, I echoed back.” When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw Bradley about 12 inches behind me. “Give me your lunch money,” he roared. “Not today, not tomorrow, not ever,” I shouted back at the bully. Before he could catch up to me, I turned in a circle, while still running at top speed. Then, I stuck out my foot to trip him. Cleverly, the strategy worked. Bradley fell with a loud thud to the ground. Without hesitation, I jumped on his back and began pounding him. For every blow I landed, I reminded him of the beatings he gave to the boys every morning. As he tried to get up from the ground, my courage and strength increased as I firmly held him in place.
Suddenly, the boys all stopped and stared in amazement. They laughed and cheered as I finally conquered the bully. “I’m sorry, so sorry,” he screamed. “I will never take your lunch money again.” As tears fell from his eyes, he now felt the same hurt and humiliation that I and the other boys he once bullied felt. When I allowed him to get up, he emptied his pockets and gave all of the boys two times the amount he stole from them, while apologizing for making their lives miserable. “I learned my lesson,” he sobbed. “Please forgive me.” He begged. Then, he turned and ran away, hanging his head in shame.
No Food in My Cupboard Open matching workbook questions
It seems as though hurricane Dorian or some other thief of mother nature has left my cupboard bare.
Believe me when I tell you this, I have absolutely no food in there.
Now I’m out of a job. I’ve got bills to pay, and the last of my bread and cereal I ate today.
If you told me a month ago that I would be in this place, I would have probably laugh right in your face.
But here I am so very hungry with no food for my mouth to taste.
Oh, how I wish for those days of plenty.
I am so sorry for the food I did waste.
No food in my cupboard, absolutely none at all.
My head is pounding, my stomach is churning,
Worms are gnawing at my empty belly and eating at my inner walls
What I wouldn’t do for some freshly-baked coconut tarts or tamarind balls,
Well, this is the reality for many we see.
With very little food in their cupboards throughout our country.
Principal Pancakes Open matching workbook questions
I never knew anyone who ate pancakes like the principal at the primary school on Long Island. Truthfully, he was like a pancake-eating machine. Whenever I saw him, he was always stuffing his mouth full of pancakes. Because of his love for the tasty treat, he was nicknamed after the pastry. Principal Pancakes was a short, fat old man with a pancake-shaped head, two bulging eyes, a long protruding nose, and a round, pudgy belly that jiggled like coconut jelly whenever he laughed. Generally, Principal Pancakes was not a mean man. You could ask him for anything, but never ask him to share his pancakes. Those he never shared with anyone. If you don’t believe me, try asking him for yourself and let me know the result.
When I arrived at school this morning, I gazed down the hall, and there I saw Principal Pancakes with his usual stack of pancakes. As I watched him hurrying toward his office with a platter of pancakes in one hand and two pancakes in the other, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his daily breakfast. Moments later, I saw Principal Pancakes lying on the ground with the platter of pancakes on top of him. Like a flash, he jumped up, scooped up the pancakes, dusted them off, and continued on his merry way. At first glance, I thought I was imagining things, but when I looked a second time, Principal Pancakes was stuffing pancakes into his mouth two and three at a time. Tell you no lie, by the time he reached his office, all of the pancakes were gone, and I saw Principal Pancakes licking his greasy fingers while he yelled for the cafeteria cook to bring him another three dozen pancakes from the kitchen. I smiled and thought to myself, “What a greedy old man!”
Tongue Twisters for Madams and Misters Open matching workbook questions
1. Almost all actors act accordingly.
2. Bahamians bake bigger, better burgers.
3. Catching crabs can create challenges.
4. Dazzling dolphins do dance daily.
5, Every elephant eats excitedly.
6. Fat friendly Frank fries French fries.
7. Giggling geese graze gleefully.
8. How hard had Hank hit Henry?
9. Is ice-cold ice-cream icy?
10. January Jack jumped joyfully.
11. Kind kittens kept kissing kids.
12. Large leopards lovingly licked little lemons.
13. Many men made marvelous macaroni.
14. Naughty Nelly nudged noisy Nancy.
15. Only one orange or only one onion.
16. Plenty people profusely picked plums.
17. Quivering quails questioned quarreling Quinsy.
18. Raging Rodger remains rather rude.
19. Sneaky slithering snakes sneaked silently.
20. That tow truck takes tamarinds to town.
21. Ugly Uncle Ulrich uses unwanted umbrellas.
22. Vast vibrating violins vibrate vigorously.
23. Weekly Wednesday Wet water wets Wendy.
24. Xeroxed xenophobic xenophobes x-rayed xylophones.
25. Yelling Yankee yellow yawned yesterday.
26. Zoo zebras zestfully zoomed zigzaggingly.
References
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Concluding Remarks
Congratulations on reaching the end of Brain Vitamin Online Reader, Volume 1.
Whether you are a student, teacher, parent, or lifelong learner, I hope these stories have entertained you, challenged your thinking, and inspired you to discover the incredible power of reading. Every passage in this book was carefully crafted to strengthen reading comprehension while encouraging imagination, critical thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love for learning.
Reading is much more than recognizing words on a page. It is a gateway to knowledge, opportunity, confidence, and personal growth. Every book you read expands your understanding of the world and helps prepare you to meet life's challenges with wisdom and determination.
Throughout this collection, you have encountered stories designed not only to improve your reading skills but also to encourage reflection on important values such as kindness, perseverance, equality, equity, responsibility, honesty, courage, and respect. These values are just as important as academic success and will continue to guide you throughout your life.
To our teachers, thank you for your dedication to helping students grow into confident readers and independent thinkers. Your encouragement transforms every lesson into an opportunity to inspire young minds.
To parents and guardians, thank you for making reading a priority. Your support, encouragement, and involvement play a vital role in helping children become successful learners. Even a few minutes of shared reading each day can create a lasting love for books.
To every student, never stop asking questions, never stop exploring new ideas, and never stop believing in your ability to learn. Every page you read today prepares you for even greater achievements tomorrow.
Learning is a journey that never truly ends. Continue reading, continue growing, and continue striving to become the very best version of yourself.
Thank you for making Brain Vitamin Online Reader, Volume 1 part of your educational journey. It is my sincere hope that these stories continue to educate, encourage, and inspire readers for many years to come.
Keep reading. Keep learning. Keep growing. Your greatest chapters are still ahead.
About the Author:
The story of my life is an extraordinary narrative that speaks about my struggles, triumphs and successes. I learned to used the obstacles encountered as steppingstones to beating odds that appear insurmountable to others. As a Bahamian father, educator and accomplished author, I spend my time being a father to Kylan, my -year-old son, mentoring youth, advocating for my rights and the rights of others and creating educational teaching and learning content to improve the quality of reading and writing competence in our young people.
At the age of eight, I lost my sight completely to glaucoma. Despite being blind, it is my firm belief that every hurdle in the road is only a temporary delay along the path to the achieving of lifelong dreams. That said, I am a graduate of West Virginia State University in The United States, where I earned both my Associate and Bachelor degrees in English education, respectively. Additionally, I recently completed my Master’s of Education in teaching and learning at the world-class University of Ottawa in Canada and plan to pursue my doctorate in the not so distant future.
Presently, I teach the Language Arts curriculum at the Erin H. Gilmour School for the Blind, where blind and visually impaired children, ages 4 to 18 years are educated. Additionally, I provide instruction in Braille literacy and training on assistive technology devices to help people living with blindness improve their functional independence. With that being said, I am convinced that all persons with disabilities should have the same opportunities for training that are afforded their able-bodied counterparts. Moreover, I feel all persons have the capacity to learn and they should be given the chance to prove their worth. Furthermore, I love the Lord with all my heart, and I am optimistic about my future prospects and level of preparedness to embrace opportunities when they come knocking. It is my personal mission in life to blaze a trail for other blind or visually impaired persons to follow in my footsteps. No doubt, I am guided by these very personal words which I have penned and are guided by throughout my life. When you believe in the progress you can imagine, you can live the life that you aspire to achieve.