Thursday, November 1, 2007

By Marlene Seaton-Hunte (Class of 1977)

Marlene Seaton-Hunte (r) with Sharon Gentles at the Excelsior Alumni Association(USA) Inc 38th Anniversary Dinner/ Dance and Awards Function In New York

HOUSTON, Tx: I got a call from my best friend, Sharon Gentles, as well as my good friends, Paulette Mullings Bradnock and Althea Brown-Robinson, that no more excuses would be tolerated –– I had to come to New York for the Gala.  Every year, I made up every excuse in the book why I was unable to come to the Gala.

However, this year for sure I was going to make it due to several factors (1) I was the Valedictorian of the Class of 1977 (2) the fact that throughout the years, Paulette and Althea kept bugging me to come to at least one, and my life would be forever changed; and (3) we were celebrating 30 years of leaving high school.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined my life would be forever changed from planning the trip to the Gala.  The burden of what God had placed in my heart many years with regarding to giving back to my Alma Mater would come to fruition by Paulette’s speech at the Gala.  I have always believed in giving back, but while sitting in attendance at the Gala, I now realized that God was about to give me the biggest challenge ever.

OUR ALMA MATER NEEDS OUR HELP AND SUPPORT! 

Our high school  faces tremendous challenges. We need meaningful change to reduce dropout rates and to improve the skills of students.  To implement requires a thoughtful plan that has the best chance of success and willing hearts who are up to the challenge.  We need to demonstrate how any individual, regardless of background, abilities and resources can contribute to improving our world by inspiring students to take action, to help their fellow beings, help the planet get involved, and join together with others to make a difference in a myriad of ways.  To whom much is given much is required.  (continued)