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Success takes small failures

Elizabeth's Journey

By Seun AdeyemiPublished 3 years ago 6 min read
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Brilliant Beginnings

Elizabeth knew early on that she had a place in this world. She was destined to fulfill her life’s purpose. Early one Monday morning Elizabeth was excited to get to class. Her teacher had promised a very special activity for the day. She was an intellectually gifted child.

Elizabeth picked out a crispy white shirt, blue jeans, and her favorite blue hoodie. After brushing her teeth and combing her hair into a ponytail she hurried out of her house to wait at the bus stop. While standing at the bus stop Elizabeth looked up and noticed the trees were swaying in the wind. The clouds were perfectly placed as if drawn in a portrait. When the bus pulled up Elizabeth’s favorite singer was blasting through the speakers. She knew in her soul that it would be a great day.

Upon arriving to class Elizabeth ran to the front row, hung her backpack on the chair behind her and eagerly awaited her teacher’s instructions… Ms. Crowe walked to the center of the classroom and scanned the pupils back and forth twice before speaking. “What advice would you give to your adult self?” Ms. Crowe asked the class. Almost every hand shot up at once. Ms. Crowe called on Ray Ray who answered, “I would tell my adult self to play video games every day.” Ms. Crowe called on another student who answered, “I would tell myself to save the polar bears.” Elizabeth sat in silence. For the first time in her life she was at a loss for words. She began daydreaming and imagining what her adult self would look like. I will be successful, she thought to herself. Elizabeth’s dream was cut short when Ms. Crowe began handing out bound black leather notebooks. Ms. Crowe stated “I do not want to hear your answers I want you to write them. Write a letter to your adult self.”

Elizabeth stared at her little black notebook in silence. “Ms. Crowe, I do not know what advice I would tell the adult me.” Ms. Crowe leaned over close and said to Elizabeth “Just write.” Elizabeth shot up a quick prayer and then suddenly her pen began moving uncontrollably on the pad. First, she wrote numbers, then places, then detailed descriptions. Within the hour Elizabeth had already filled in five of the pages in her little notebook. It felt like someone else was moving her hands, her thoughts, forming her sentences, and filling in the pages. “Stop! Time is up.” Ms. Crowe walked around the classroom and began collecting the notebooks. She told the class she would mail them out in 30 years when each student had reached adult hood. Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed the writing assignment but never thought about it again.

On July 11, 1994, Elizabeth was in middle school. She was playing with her friends. They were playing spin the bottle and Elizabeth was up first. She spun the bottle and it landed on Casey Biggs a well-known athletic jock. Elizabeth was not scared to have her first kiss, she got up and walked towards him. His look stopped her in her tracks when he asked “surely, you didn’t think I would kiss a colored girl.” This was the first time Elizabeth had been called that word. Sure, she knew she was African American but no one in her family had ever referred to her as a "colored girl." Elizabeth feeling embarrassed and ashamed refused to let one tear fall from her eyes. Instead she planted a kiss right on the lips of the girl sitting next to Casey. Elizabeth said “Oh, surely you didn’t think I was going to make out with privileged asshole I am not even attracted to you.” After the girl on girl kiss the other kids labeled Elizabeth gay but she did not care. Afterall she preferred being called gay to being called a monkey.

On November 18, 2004, Elizabeth had her first job interview. She had just graduated from college. Elizabeth attended an HBCU (historically black college or university). She finished at the top of her class and graduated with honors. She was feeling confident, “who wouldn’t hire a recent graduate and honors student.” Elizabeth said to herself while waiting in the lobby drinking her morning coffee. The interviewer brought her back and took a quick glance at her resume. He said, “I see you graduated in the top ten percent of your class, probably would have been top 30-40% if you went to a regular school.” Puzzled by the question Elizabeth chose not to answer at all. She finished the rest of the interview with ease and was offered a position. Within months she was the highest grossing executive.

Elizabeth felt like she had it all a great job, salary, her own car and house. Elizabeth decided to leave and start her own company. After the first year or so she figured it was time to hire employees. On October 15, 2009, Elizabeth walked into her neighborhood bank to apply for a line of credit. She was asked to wait longer than average even though her name was on the top of the list. She watched as multiple people left with smiles on their faces after receiving the loans/lines of credit they needed to make their dreams come true. Finally, after hours of waiting, “Elizabeth” the banker called. Elizabeth jumped up and rushed to the leather chairs but before she could get comfortable the banker said, “Your application was denied.” Elizabeth was devastated, she literally saw them grant applications for every other person who had come through the doors. The only difference between her and them was her black skin. Elizabeth thanked the banker for her consideration and left to call her mom. This time Elizabeth had enough she wanted to give up. Her mother told her “I believe in you.” She took a loan out of her 401k and gave the money to Elizabeth.

On January 20, 2021, Elizabeth was at the peak of her career. Her company became a fortune 500 with over 10,000 employees. She was well respected, appreciated, and successful. She decided to open a second branch in her hometown so she could be closer to her parents. Elizabeth began conducting interviews. First the janitor position, Casey Biggs came in to interview for it. Elizabeth chuckled to herself and she hired him despite how he made her feel in 8th grade. A few months later Elizabeth advertised an office manager position and Simon the interviewer from her first job came in seeking work. She hired him as well and her business and success continued to grow.

On March 6, 2021, Elizabeth received a fedex package. She turned it upside down and out fell the notebook from her 3rd grade writing assignment. Elizabeth peeled back the first page and read every word in astonishment. The notebook contained dates, detailed descriptions, and places. Each date was one of the three occasions when she felt her lowest as a result of racism. The advice she wrote to herself said people will try to invalidate you because of your skin color. If you stay true to yourself and never give up the same people who treated, you poorly will rely on you for support. The little black book was the encouragement Elizabeth needed to finish her last deal of the day. After all she was running late to finishing buying the bank that had denied her business loan years earlier.

healing
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About the Creator

Seun Adeyemi

Ms. Adeyemi is a lawyer, entrepreneur, mother and philanthropist. She has the ability to make abstract ideas and concepts concrete. She decided to join vocal to develop her writing skills and receive peer feedback.

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