April Dawson:  

Bio: I graduated from Ohio University in 1991 with degrees in Fine Arts/ Vocal Performance and knew New York was the next step, so off I went to start my life as an artist. I now work for ABC, NBC Universal and BBC London as a professional TV/ Film Union 798 Make-Up Artist, Beauty Editor. I have worked on such shows as Good Morning America, The View (an Emmy), 20/20, World News, as well as many other in print publications, I also do film, runway and and own my own line of cosmetics. My musical/vocal performance career is now in the spotlight of my life, performing at such venues as Ashford and Simpson's Sugar, alongside of Grammy winners and talent I would never have imagined sharing a stage with so my advice is never give up or stop mastering your craft whatever that is for you as sometimes 20 something isn't when you shine as a performer or individual. I can truly say I love my life, my job and for the first time in my life AND...my own voice!! I have met, worked with, and befriended some of the most incredibly talented performers, artists and directors possible, I live, work and perform in both NYC and my second home of London and I have seen more of the world than I ever imagined. Never ever give up on a dream no matter how many hecklers, doubters, and haters you meet in life and believe high school was a real test to both my self esteem and integrity. Life has been full for me since leaving Minford High School and I can honestly say I am happier now than I ever was then. A little know fact was that I lived in Wheelersburg with a Wheelersburg address on the border between the two school districts and went to Minford in order to graduate from my father's Alma mater, a decision that made school life even more difficult for me given I had so many friends from Wheelersburg out of school hours that I always felt I did not have at Minford despite my best efforts. When I look back at all of the grief, and displacement I was allowed to suffer at the hands of some (at Minford) who were in the eyes of the masses, "popular" I can now have the last laugh but it made it all so much harder . I know I'm not alone in now seeing how they were led by their own raging insecurity and jealousy that has held them where they remain today. I am proud of whom I have become and that I did not let them keep me down and unable to grow emotionally, culturally, intellectually or spiritually. **Bullies, yes they're out there, you just have to navigate through them and if you hang on you will find like I did that eventually they end up right back where they started...*Not very pretty, Not very special, Not very talented and holding the position of "Queen" and court in no other land but Minford. Definitely not worth the hype they use to make us all believe otherwise. My hope is that schools would be wiser but sadly one of the girls in my class who helped to make my last 2 years of high school a complete living hell was actually given a teaching position at Minford High previously and the other of Minford "Queen" status is an instructor at another school both in education, both responsible for shaping children. If you or your child cannot get help to stop your child's hell at school, go and demand it elsewhere. They deserve better and "It gets better" but only if you help them. I am taking the time to share this lon...Expand for more