Smith 1

Aaylia Smith
Mrs. J. Coco
English 1001- Sec. 02
February 16, 2016
Paragraphs: 7
Preface
I initially had no idea what I wanted to focus my paper on, so I basically built my essay from
the bottom up using comments from the peer review session. The cut and paste activity saved
my paper! I realized that it bounced from subject to subject and in some parts, it lacked detail.
I deleted an entire paragraph, after realizing that it had nothing to do with the central message.
After clarifying my focus, I was able to establish an audience. The cut and paste activity
allowed me to chop my paper up and identify what matched and what didnt. I the midst of the
revisions that I did do, I question if I could have done more. My three biggest concerns are
based on if my paper embraces the audience I chose, if it is as organized as possible and is
fluid, and if there needs to be more detail in the paragraphs. The paragraph lengths bother me,
because I feel like they could be longer. However, when I look to add more detail, I find
nothing worth adding or feel it to be extraneous to the central message.
My audience is my mom and a few of my close family members.

I need help with. . . and / or I'm not sure about

The strengths of my discovery draft are

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Mental Flowers: A Family Education
I.

Education has always been a big part of my life. I have always loved to learn new things,

and have loved talking about them in hopes of learning something new. My family has always
encouraged me to speak up and ask questions about what I dont know or understand. Going to
school and getting an education was always an understood thing to me.

II.

My dad graduated high school but never finished college. I think he enrolled somewhere,

but that was about it. Looking back, I feel as if his parents didnt push him to do anything with
himself or his education. When looking at my life and my family, God made it clear to me what a
simple push can do. My parents got a divorce when I was about seven years old. My mother and
grandmother raised me. I thought that I had missed out on something; some part of life that
having a father would have given me. I soon realized that it doesnt matter whether you come
from a single parent home, or a home with two parents; all that matters is what they teach you,
and what you fight to learn.

III.

My mother has probably been the biggest direct influence for me and how I view

education. She always implied that it is necessary that I gain all of the knowledge that I possibly
can. My mother has always supported me. No matter what she has to do, I can always count on
her whether anyone else is there or not. My mother attended college. She was in her final year,
but was unable to finish due to the school being severely impacted by fraud. She always wanted
to go back to school, but never really had the time or financial means to do so. She has been
working ever since I can remember. She constantly reminds me that she doesnt want me to
suffer by lack of education and resource.

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IV.

It is pretty strange how things work out. I went through two majors my first semester of

college. I was clueless about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. All I knew is that I love
kids and love to help others. I would call her every day, griping about how much I hated the field
I was in. God always has a way of showing you where you need to be. You just have to calm
down and let Him lead you. I never dreamt of going into Child and Family Studies. My mother
was a Social Work major, but I never saw myself doing anything with that. When I told her what
I was changing my major to, she was so happy that I found something that I would like. My
mom then reminded me of a notecard that Id made a few years ago. When I went home on a
break, I found it. It had, Dr. Aaylia Smith, Family Counselor, PhD., on it. I truly believe that
God always planned for me to become a counselor. I just took me some time to realize it for
myself.

V.

I remember being about four years old and my mom taking me to school with her. We

would go on Saturday mornings and I would sit in a desk and color in my workbook and eat my
snacks. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I felt like a big girl. I felt as if I was in
school along with my mom. My mother would also take me with her when she went to do work
for her internship. When we were not at her school or running errands, we were there. She would
go into a room and make calls to services that her clients needed, while I would go into the
lounge, eat, and watch movies. I think every child should have an opportunity like this. I am
blessed to have had this experience with my mom.

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VI.

My grandmother was also a big part of my life and education. She passed away five years

ago. I was too young to really understand what she left behind and to ask to the questions that
would have given me more insight on what she had done. My grandmother was a matriarch for
African- Americans in education- well, at least in our eyes she was. My grandmother was born in
nineteen twenty-six in a little town called Napoleonville, Louisiana (also referred to as
Plattenville). She was the youngest girl of four children. Back then, it was of course very
difficult for a Black woman to obtain an education, but my grandmother did not let that notion
deter her from doing so. My grandmother was one of five to officially graduate from the
Napoleonville Colored School in nineteen forty-eight and from the Xavier University Home
Nursing Program a few years later. Now mind you, that slavery was officially ended in eighteen
sixty-five. That means that my grandmother- not even a century later, attained a significant
amount of education that was previously only preserved for Whites. The part of town that she
was from was eventually given the name College Point, because a lot of Blacks that went to
college were from there. My grandma was and still is a huge support for me and my education.

VII.

I honestly, could not tell you where I would be without my family. When I do think about

it, I often think that if it wasnt for Gods grace and my family, I could have been one of those
kids you hear about in the news, where Im from. If I had the time to, I would tell you about a
bunch of my other family members who have helped and supported me- and continue to do so. I
cannot, in any way possible, thank my family enough for what they have done, and are still
doing. They have impacted my life and will continue to do so for years to come.