No 5-star chicks in the ‘diamond lane’
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/4696/1/No-5-star-chicks-in-the-diamond-lane/Page1.html
By Brittany Jackson
Published on 03/4/2010
On Feb. 27th, the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences Middle School held their 6th annual Mother/ Daughter Brunch at the Doubletree Hotel. The event, put on by Girls Empowering Minds in Society (G.E.M.S.), was beautiful. The food was delicious and all the guests looked stellar. The members of G.E.M.S. set the entire program up and decorated the room.
The guest speaker, manager of Christ Community Health Services Choices Program, Joy Crawford-Sharpe, was quite inspirational. She started off by asking the audience members if they were “5-star chicks,” a reference to rapper Yo Gotti’s description of the females he desires. Just about everyone in the room voted yes by standing.
Now many would think that being a “5 Star Chick” is a good thing, but Crawford-Sharpe made the point that nobody should want to be such a woman.
“5 stars are used when you rate movies, when you rate books, when you rate restaurants, and when you rate hotels. 5 star is an insult to a woman with a million qualities,” she said.
So true. Her message was that everyone should be in the diamond lane. Diamonds, said Crawford-Sharpe, are formed at high pressure and high temperatures.
“In other words, you need the right environment to turn these gems into objects of desire.”
Basically, a diamond is like a woman. There is so much that women go through. Like diamonds, they are strong and do not break under pressure. She broke the word “DIAMONDS” down like this:
The D means define yourself. “You are you. Everything about you belongs to you.”
The I means identify your strengths and your weaknesses.
The A means admire yourself when no one else does. Always complement and encourage yourself.
The M means make over when necessary. Sometimes things just happen and you have to stop and think about how things are in your life.
The O means original. “You are unique. When the creator made you he broke the mold.” There is only one you; there may be other people that share the same qualities as you, but there is only one YOU in the world.
The N means nurture your “diamonette” (your son or daughter). Be the example and supporter for them. Let them know the wrongs and rights and how mistakes are Ok.
The D means be determined to break all strongholds. Don’t let obstacles in life get you down and make you feel like giving up.
The S means shine. Always smile. Do not always show you inner feelings on the outside because people can take advantage of that. “It takes more muscles to make a frown than it does to smile.”
Everyone can be a “Diamond” Crawford-Sharpe said.
“A diamond is the most precious stone known to man. You need to know your worth, you need to know your value, and guess what? Your parents, your aunts, everyone has expectations for you.”
Everyone should be the best that they can and learn new things every day, she said. There is some type of support system for everyone, but don’t take it for granted.
I want to cap this iTeen column with the same punctuation point that Crawford-Sharpe used at the end of her speech.
“In order to grow you have to have steps. In order to climb those steps, you have to have perseverance. In order to persevere, you have to have determination. In order to be determined, you have to be pushed. In order to be pushed, you have to have friction. In order to have friction, you have to set a fire. Become a gem and get your driver’s license, but make sure you drive in the diamond lane first.”
(Brittany is a senior at Middle College High School. Contact her at iteen@tri-statedefender.com)
On Feb. 27th, the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences Middle School held their 6th annual Mother/ Daughter Brunch at the Doubletree Hotel. The event, put on by Girls Empowering Minds in Society (G.E.M.S.), was beautiful.
No 5-star chicks in the ‘diamond lane’
 |
Brittany Jackson |
The guest speaker, manager of Christ Community Health Services Choices Program, Joy Crawford-Sharpe, was quite inspirational. She started off by asking the audience members if they were “5-star chicks,” a reference to rapper Yo Gotti’s description of the females he desires. Just about everyone in the room voted yes by standing.
Now many would think that being a “5 Star Chick” is a good thing, but Crawford-Sharpe made the point that nobody should want to be such a woman.
“5 stars are used when you rate movies, when you rate books, when you rate restaurants, and when you rate hotels. 5 star is an insult to a woman with a million qualities,” she said.
So true. Her message was that everyone should be in the diamond lane. Diamonds, said Crawford-Sharpe, are formed at high pressure and high temperatures.
“In other words, you need the right environment to turn these gems into objects of desire.”
Basically, a diamond is like a woman. There is so much that women go through. Like diamonds, they are strong and do not break under pressure. She broke the word “DIAMONDS” down like this:
The D means define yourself. “You are you. Everything about you belongs to you.”
The I means identify your strengths and your weaknesses.
The A means admire yourself when no one else does. Always complement and encourage yourself.
The M means make over when necessary. Sometimes things just happen and you have to stop and think about how things are in your life.
The O means original. “You are unique. When the creator made you he broke the mold.” There is only one you; there may be other people that share the same qualities as you, but there is only one YOU in the world.
The N means nurture your “diamonette” (your son or daughter). Be the example and supporter for them. Let them know the wrongs and rights and how mistakes are Ok.
The D means be determined to break all strongholds. Don’t let obstacles in life get you down and make you feel like giving up.
The S means shine. Always smile. Do not always show you inner feelings on the outside because people can take advantage of that. “It takes more muscles to make a frown than it does to smile.”
Everyone can be a “Diamond” Crawford-Sharpe said.
“A diamond is the most precious stone known to man. You need to know your worth, you need to know your value, and guess what? Your parents, your aunts, everyone has expectations for you.”
Everyone should be the best that they can and learn new things every day, she said. There is some type of support system for everyone, but don’t take it for granted.
I want to cap this iTeen column with the same punctuation point that Crawford-Sharpe used at the end of her speech.
“In order to grow you have to have steps. In order to climb those steps, you have to have perseverance. In order to persevere, you have to have determination. In order to be determined, you have to be pushed. In order to be pushed, you have to have friction. In order to have friction, you have to set a fire. Become a gem and get your driver’s license, but make sure you drive in the diamond lane first.”
(Brittany is a senior at Middle College High School. Contact her at iteen@tri-statedefender.com)