What's Your Story?

(This is the original version. I still need to add parts about why I want to teach, my English background, favorite things about teaching English, and hobbies. I am still working on those revisions. I'm just afraid this is going to end up being a really long paper.)

I was born at home
And made front-page news
I cut my teeth
On the church’s pews
I’m from Sunday School
And Homecoming lunches
High school band
And school-girl crushes
Mom and Dad
Still together today
(It’s still supposed
To be that way)
Older brother
Little Sis
Middle Child
Yes! I am!
First to graduate
From a university
Seven year plan,
But who’s really counting
I came out with a degree
In Sign Language Interpreting
Now here I am
At UNCC
MAT here I come
Look at me!
Girl Scouts
Music
PTO
Daughter dances
Away we go!
Married to a wonderful man
And he is my “bestest” friend
Still working on achieving dreams
It’s all just part of being me!

My story is simple. Ok, so maybe not. My name is Leslie Parker Jackson. Except for four years of my life, I have lived in a ten mile radius of the house in which I grew up. On February 15, 1978, I was born at home to Rick and Jeanie Parker. Of my friends from high school, I am one of three—I think—that our parents are still married. Every Sunday, we were at church. I grew up knowing that if I followed God’s plan for my life, then I would be where I was supposed to be. Have I veered from that? Sure I have—a couple times. However, I always seem to find my way back.

I have an older brother, Donnie, who is exactly four grades older than me, but only 3 ½ years older. For 9 ½ years, I was the baby of the family. My little sister, Lisa, was born when I was in fourth grade. I would have traded her for just about anything back then, but now I wouldn’t trade her for the world.

I attended Concord High School—home of the “International Award-Winning Spider Marching Band”. I played just about every instrument I could get the band directors to teach me. My love of music helped me to find myself in the Music Education program at Appalachian State University for my Freshman year of college! Go Mountaineers! Still today, if you cut me, I bleed black and gold! I only attended ASU for one year, however, because I had three deaths in the family (or close family friends) during the second semester, and I decided it was time to come home.

I spent two-and-a-half years at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. During that time I met my wonderful husband, Tony. I transferred to UNCCharlotte in January 2000. A month later, Tony proposed. In August I moved to UNCGreensboro from which I graduated three years later. In May 2001, Tony and I were married. Our wedding started just as the green flag was dropping for the Winston (now called the All-Star Race) at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. If you walked outside and knew what to listen for, you could hear the cars as they sped through turns three and four. As I walked the stage at the Department of Education graduation ceremony, I could feel the tiny kicks of my daughter inside me. I was six months along when I graduated.

Tony and I moved back to Concord in June 2003. Our beautiful daughter, Chasity Carletta, was born in August. She has her Grandmother’s middle name. Tony’s mom died a little more than a year before Chasity was born. Where I’m from, you keep the names in the family. That’s part of how you keep the family history alive.

Five years later, actually five years and one week, Chasity started Kindergarten and I started the MAT program at UNCC—on the same day! I have my internship next semester. I have to take the Praxis II. Then, hopefully, I’ll have my teaching license. I have a little while left before getting my Masters, but that is a dream I’ll just keep pursuing.

Today, I am a mother, wife, daughter, aunt, sister, friend, PTO board member, and Girl Scout troop leader. Sometimes I feel like a chef, a maid, a secretary, and a taxi driver. But, most importantly, I am me. My story is not so different from many others. I was born. I grew up. I am living my life the best I know how with the people I love surrounding me.