I was that child of my moms.

The one who was strong-willed and the one who was going to do things her own way.  Right or wrong that’s how I was and still am.

At the age of 12

My mom promised me a car if I would just make C’s in school.  “I am not asking for much Cecilia.”  I can still hear her pleading with me to just give some effort.  I remember my response to her.  “I don’t need a car. I’m only 12 years old.”

She did NOT know what to do with me,

Begging, pleading, bribery and punishment did not work with me.  I struggled and so my mom struggled right along with me. She wanted me to be successful.  She wanted everyone else to see the girl she saw at home.

What did She do?

She tried to find something I was interested in.  Something that I would excel at.  Something that would make me want to work.  We started with baton lessons at the age of five and then dance at the age of six.  From there, it was swimming, diving, softball, track, Girl Scouts, basketball and volleyball.

As it turns out,

I was pretty good at volleyball.  It was THE activity that my mom was looking for.  The one that I wanted to do or play more than anything else.  And, She was right… I had to make the grades in order to play.  I made low C’s.

My dad asked

“Where are you going to go to college?” “I’m not.” I said.  “Unless, I get a scholarship.” My dad didn’t really respond to that answer.  I am sure he was thinking, “A low C average student in high school, NO ONE is going to give her a scholarship.”

Lucky for me…

We went to the state volleyball tournament my senior year.  We were consolation winners but, it was the exposure I needed.  Sometime in January, Gool Castelberry contacted the school and asked me to tryout for her team.  After trying out she offered me a scholarship.  I played for St. Phillips for two years.

Dad was leaving for work

and he woke me up early.  “Which school are you going to choose today?”  “I don’t know,” I replied…This was the first time I realized he was proud of me.  I sat there at 6 in the morning with three letters of intent on the kitchen table.  I had three new scholarships offered to me just to play ball.  Angelo State, Southwest Texas, and Texas Tech were my choices.  The last thing dad said as the door shut was “I don’t know many people who get to play in the Southwest Conference.” so….. I picked Texas Tech.

It is not what she did

it is what she didn’t do.  She didn’t give up on this strong-willed drifting daughter of hers.  She didn’t let all the teachers and councilors at school, who told her that her daughter would never graduate from college, keep her from trying to find a solution.  And last, she never made me feel like I was different.  She let me be me.

Last little note…

Be your childs best advocate.  Know you must keep a postive attitude and love your children for who they are and for who they are not.  Each of us has special gifts and we are ALL unique.