Still Becoming: A Woman's Journey of Faith, Resilience, Leadership, and Purpose

"I am not the woman I was yesterday, and I am not yet the woman I am destined to become. But every experience, every challenge, and every victory has prepared me for this season of my life."

There comes a time in a woman's life when she looks in the mirror and realizes that she has spent much of her journey being everything to everybody else. A mother. A wife. A daughter. An educator. A leader. A caregiver. A problem solver. A source of strength for people who may never realize how much strength she needed for herself.

I know that woman because, in many ways, I am that woman.

For more than three decades, I have dedicated my professional life to educating children, developing teachers, leading schools, and advocating for families and communities. I have been blessed to serve in positions that allowed me to influence lives and create opportunities for others.

But behind every professional accomplishment is a personal story. Mine is one of faith, perseverance, unexpected transitions, lessons learned, and the courage to keep becoming.

I have discovered that being an influential woman does not mean living a life without challenges. It means refusing to allow those challenges to have the final word.

The Woman Behind the Titles

My journey into educational leadership did not begin with a desire for recognition or prestige. It began with a genuine belief that education has the power to change lives.

Over the years, I have served as a teacher, reading coach, assistant principal, principal, school readiness coordinator, professional development coordinator, and now Director of the Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center at Alabama State University.

Each position brought new responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities for growth. I learned how to lead teams, support struggling educators, advocate for children, navigate difficult decisions, and remain focused on the mission even when circumstances were less than ideal.

Yet, some of my most important lessons were not learned in a classroom, leadership meeting, or professional development session.

They were learned through life.

I have experienced seasons when my plans changed, when relationships took unexpected turns, and when I had to rediscover who I was outside the roles I had become so accustomed to fulfilling.

Divorce was one of those life transitions that required me to redefine my future. It reminded me that sometimes the life we envisioned and the life we ultimately live are not the same.

But I also learned that a changed life is not necessarily a diminished life.

Sometimes, what feels like an ending becomes the beginning of a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Learning to Start Over Without Starting From Nothing

One of the most powerful lessons I have learned is that starting over does not mean starting from nothing.

When life requires us to begin again, we carry wisdom, experience, lessons, strength, and a clearer understanding of what truly matters.

As women, we sometimes place unnecessary timelines on our lives. We convince ourselves that certain dreams should have been accomplished by a particular age, that opportunities have expiration dates, or that beginning again somehow means we have failed.

I no longer subscribe to that belief.

I believe that every season has purpose.

At this stage of my life, I am still dreaming, still learning, still setting goals, and still discovering new possibilities.

I refuse to believe that my greatest contributions are behind me simply because I have already accomplished so much.

There is something liberating about reaching a point in life when you no longer feel compelled to prove your worth to everyone around you.

You begin to understand that your value is not determined by a relationship status, a professional title, an income level, or someone else's approval.

Your worth was never dependent on those things.

You are valuable because of who you are, not simply because of what you do for others.

Faith Has Been My Foundation

Throughout my journey, faith has remained an important source of strength.

There have been moments when I did not have all the answers, when the next step was unclear, and when I had to trust that my journey still had meaning even when I could not see the complete picture.

Faith has taught me that delays are not always denials, that disappointment does not eliminate purpose, and that difficult seasons can produce unexpected growth.

It has also taught me the importance of grace—grace for others and, perhaps most importantly, grace for myself.

As women, we can be our own harshest critics. We replay decisions, question our choices, and carry guilt over things we cannot change.

But growth requires us to release the expectation of perfection.

I am learning that it is possible to acknowledge mistakes without allowing them to define my identity.

I can honor my past without remaining imprisoned by it.

And I can move forward with faith, even when I do not know exactly what lies ahead.

Motherhood, Family, and the Meaning of Legacy

Of all the roles I have held, being a mother and grandmother has given my life some of its deepest meaning.

Raising children while pursuing professional responsibilities requires sacrifice, patience, determination, and an extraordinary amount of love.

Motherhood has taught me lessons about leadership that no textbook could fully explain.

It has taught me how to encourage, how to listen, how to make difficult decisions, and how to love people through their own journeys of growth.

Now, as a grandmother, I have an even greater appreciation for the importance of legacy.

I think about the example I want to leave for my children and grandchildren.

I want them to understand that success is not measured solely by material possessions or professional accomplishments. It is measured by character, integrity, compassion, perseverance, and the willingness to make a positive difference.

I want them to know that setbacks are part of life, but surrendering their dreams does not have to be.

Most importantly, I want them to see a woman who continued to grow, serve, and believe in herself through every season.

Leadership Is About Lifting Others

My professional experiences have reinforced my belief that leadership is an act of service.

Today, as Director of the Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center at Alabama State University, I have the privilege of helping shape the educational experiences of young children while supporting the educators and families who nurture them.

Our center's motto, "Igniting Minds to Build Impact," reflects a philosophy I carry into every aspect of my life.

I believe that every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, every educator deserves support, and every family deserves to feel valued.

I also believe that women in leadership have a responsibility to create opportunities for other women.

We should not be threatened by another woman's success. We should celebrate it.

We should not withhold knowledge because we fear being replaced. We should share it because leadership is strengthened when others grow.

True influence is not about how many people follow you. It is about how many people become stronger, more confident, and more capable because you believed in them.

Finding Purpose Beyond the Profession

My passion for helping others extends beyond education.

Through my involvement with HOPE'S Youth Development Services, Inc., I remain committed to creating opportunities for young people through educational enrichment, mentorship, community engagement, and positive youth development.

I believe that children should never be limited by their ZIP code, economic circumstances, or the challenges facing their communities.

Every child deserves someone who sees their possibilities rather than simply their problems.

This belief has become a defining part of my personal mission.

I want to be remembered not merely as someone who held leadership positions, but as someone who used those positions to open doors.

Someone who advocated when others remained silent.

Someone who encouraged others when they were ready to give up.

Someone who understood that service is not simply something we do. It is part of who we become.

Are You OK? The Question We Rarely Ask Strong Women

One of the messages closest to my heart is a simple question: Are you OK?

It is a question I believe we need to ask more often, especially of women who appear to have everything together.

We often assume that the woman who leads the organization, manages the household, encourages everyone else, and smiles through adversity must be doing fine.

But strong women experience disappointment.

Strong women experience loneliness.

Strong women experience grief, financial pressure, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion.

Sometimes the woman who encourages everyone else is the very woman who needs someone to encourage her.

I believe we must create spaces where women can speak honestly about their experiences without fear of judgment.

There is strength in acknowledging when we need support.

There is courage in asking for help.

And there is healing in knowing that we do not have to navigate every challenge alone.

Being influential should never require us to pretend that we are invincible.

Our humanity is not a weakness. It is often the very thing that allows us to connect with and inspire others.

To the Woman Who Thinks It Is Too Late

If I could speak directly to a woman who is questioning her worth, reconsidering her dreams, or struggling to find the courage to begin again, I would tell her this:

You are not too old.

You are not too late.

You are not disqualified because your life did not unfold according to your original plan.

You are not defined by the relationship that ended, the opportunity that passed, the mistake you made, or the season that challenged your confidence.

You are still becoming.

Give yourself permission to pursue the dream you placed on hold.

Give yourself permission to grow beyond the expectations others have placed on you.

Give yourself permission to experience joy, love, peace, and fulfillment without feeling guilty about choosing yourself.

And remember that the same woman who has spent years pouring into everyone else deserves to experience a life that pours back into her.

My Next Chapter Is Still Being Written

As I reflect on my life, I am grateful for the opportunities I have received, the people I have encountered, the lessons I have learned, and even the challenges that helped shape my character.

I am proud of my professional accomplishments, but I am equally proud of the woman I am continuing to become.

I still have dreams to pursue, communities to serve, children to inspire, and lives to influence.

I am learning to embrace this season with greater confidence, stronger boundaries, renewed faith, and an appreciation for the possibilities that remain.

My journey has taught me that a woman's influence is not limited to her professional achievements. Sometimes her greatest influence comes from the courage she demonstrates when life requires her to begin again.

I want my story to remind women that they can be both accomplished and unfinished, both strong and vulnerable, both grateful for the past and excited about the future.

I am not starting over because my story has ended. I am moving forward because there are still chapters worth writing.

And perhaps that is the most beautiful part of becoming an influential woman.

You realize that your greatest legacy is not simply what you have accomplished.

It is the hope you inspire in others to believe that they, too, can rise, rebuild, and become.

I am still growing. Still believing. Still leading. Still becoming.

And the best of my story may still be ahead of me.