Carolyn Williams

May 24, 2000

Assignment1-Personal Essay

Introducing, Carolyn Williams

On January 14, 1956 at approximately seven in the morning, Howard and Blanche Mayo delivered their fifth and final child. I came at a time when my mom believed she was past having more children. The youngest was already ten years old, and she was past her forty-second birthday. Now, not only was I the baby of the family but also the only girl.

I grew up on a farm in central North Carolina where we raised tobacco, cotton and corn. My mother's philosophy was "you don't work, you don't eat,"  which meant everybody at home worked. I often told my mom I couldn't wait to turn sixteen so I could get a public job. Then I wouldn't have to work so hard. This may be the reason my brothers all left home right after high school.

School in the rural south was extremely hard. I was one of four Blacks in the entire school and the only one in my class for four years. I was in the ninth grade when forced integration occurred. This did bring some relief since I could no longer be singled out. However, I did not seem to fit in with students like me, because I had been out of "the loop" for so long. Despite all obstacles, I was able to graduate and was nominated Most Likely to Succeed.

As the years have past, I married a wonderful New Yorker, and between us, we have four kids and five grand kids. Lawrence and I have been married fifteen years. Since we have been together, we have lived in North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, and now Newport News. You just never know where you will relocate with the government.

Currently, I am a full time student. By profession, I am a Quality Control Engineer. I have worked in the quality field for twenty years. In this profession, I have worked for companies that make perfumes and colognes, plastic containers and blood-tubing sets for dialysis patients. It has really been an interesting field to work. Every company needs quality people.

My real life's dream has been to own my own sewing business. What started as something I taught myself to do at age twelve has turned into a home-based business where I sew as well as teach sewing. My students have ranged from fifteen to fifty-five, and it's always a pleasure to see each new creation as it is finished. I know I'll probably never get rich at this, but I get such pleasure out of teaching a skill that I enjoy so much.

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