Shiela Martina Keaise

I attribute my success to having a good family life. Growing up, I had a secure place where I found encouragement, love, and a sense that anything was possible. My sister and I were the oldest grandchildren, and every Christmas our aunts, uncles, and family friends showered us with gifts. We would leave with boxes of gifts that we valued and played with throughout the year. This was ingrained in me - that I was of value, that I meant something to them, that life was good because others cared about me. That's what drives me now. I want people to feel cared for and valued. When I do things, whether it's singing, writing, or speaking in front of audiences, I'm really driven by making people feel that they are important and that they're a part of something. My sister told me I'm a good storyteller, and that encompasses so much - you can sing as a storyteller and draw the audience in, you can talk and tell a story. As a children's librarian, I was known for being a storyteller. I dramatized everything and made it fun for them, made them feel like they were a part of the book and a part of my family. Making people feel that they are important and a part of something - that's what makes me stand out and what makes me different.

The best career advice I ever received came from my auntie, my older, experienced mentor. When I went to college and credit cards were coming out, every teenager wanted one. But my auntie told me, 'Do not get a credit card. If you need something, you call us, and we'll give it to you.' I am so thankful that I listened to her. I did not get a credit card, whereas my fellow classmates and peers were getting credit cards and getting what they wanted. I guarantee you, they have poor credit and are probably still carrying some of that credit card debt from back then with interest. They didn't tell you that the interest was gonna be crazy if you didn't pay it every month, and where was I gonna get the money to pay that back every month? That's the experience I was talking about - if you don't have that older, experienced person to give you advice that would stop you from making stupid mistakes, your future is gonna look totally different than what it would have looked like had you listened and taken their advice.

I would give younger women three key pieces of advice. Number one, connect with an older or more experienced woman for guidance. Most young people think that they know everything and can handle everything, especially when you get that education. But regardless of how high you go, connect with an older or experienced person, and preferably a woman, because men are awesome, but they aren't going to give us that one-on-one that we need. Number two, always put yourself in a position to communicate well. That may look like taking public speaking classes or joining groups and speaking up and sharing your thoughts, being able to articulate what you want to say, because communication is everything. If you're not able to communicate what you want, or what you see, or what you hear, then everything that you're working for is not going to get done. Whether you're writing a book, teaching, or serving as an engineer, if you're not able to articulate and communicate what you want to see done, it's not gonna work. And number three, find your passion. A lot of our young people do not have a passion for anything - they have a nonchalant attitude. Find something that you have a driven ambition for, something you want to see accomplished, that you want to dig deeper in and work diligently to make it come to pass. Communicate daily, just like I tell them as a librarian to read daily. If they can start those three things off well, I think they will be successful in anything they choose to do.