For Dreamers, Thinkers and Achievers
By Cheryl Mattox Berry When I was in sixth grade, my class staged a Christmas pageant. It was written and directed by my teacher, the late Mrs. Bernice Harris, a much sought-after speaker and one of my mentors. I delivered the closing monologue, and the words I recited that day have stuck with me throughout […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry If you think rules are made to be broken, just ask basketball great Michael Jordan. He was recently called out for not wearing the proper golf attire at a private country club in South Florida. Jordan wore cargo shorts instead of golf shorts or pants. When a club staffer told Jordan […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry No. Say it. Again. That two-letter word is hard for some people to say regardless of how they feel. It could be that they don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings or that a no response would make them look like a bad person. Sometimes, it’s okay to say no. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry The other day, my mother asked me if I ever got tired of harassing the children (my nieces and nephews.) “Absolutely not,” I replied. “That’s my job. If I don’t do it, no one will.” What she considers harassment, I call gentle prodding. I ask them when they’re taking the ACT […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry One of my daughter’s friends is called “The Mom” of the group. She serves as the designated driver, plays devil’s advocate, cautions them against doing stupid stuff and looks after everyone. She’s the backbone of the group. Every circle of friends needs a mom. Does yours have one? As the holiday […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry As you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, take a few minutes to thank those who have supported you in big and small ways this year. Was there a teacher who saw that you were struggling and offered words of encouragement or extra time to complete an assignment? A […]
Continue ReadingBy Paola, 16, junior Every time I try to convince my parents that it’s time for me to get a job, they always tell me the same thing, “Your only job is to focus on your grades and health!” I think it’s time for them to move on from that. I’m so organized that I […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Aretha Franklin, Train, Notorious B.I.G and The Staple Singers recorded hit songs about respect, but I think a lot of people have forgotten what the word means. Here goes: Respect (noun) – a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievements. – Oxford Dictionaries […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry When I was growing up, the women’s rights movement to gain equal pay, equal access and control over our bodies was called feminism. The word lost its cache over the years as women climbed the corporate ladder, and younger women decided that having it all wasn’t their No. 1 priority. Like […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Opportunity abounds for community service projects to benefit Haiti in the wake of destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, which killed 54 people on the island. Haiti is reeling from Tropical Storm Isaac in August and a huge earthquake in 2010 that caused major damage to homes, buildings and the infrastructure. Although […]
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