Carolyn Smith:
CLASS OF 1970
Central AcademyClass of 1970
Palatka, FL
Carolyn's Story
School
My high school days were basically good. I thought I was friendly to everyone and I got along with most. Elsie Keys, Blanche Boyd (Cookie), Wilma Wiggs, Lenora Walker, Nathan Taylor, Willie Hankins, James Hankins, Jackie Greene, Van Lewis, Harold and Charles Nealy, Bernie Gibson, Alvin Walker, Doris Bradshaw, Phyllis Fells and many more. Who could forget Ms. Rosa K Ragsdale and 12D. Oh what a talented and brilliant lady. She had an unorthodox way of teaching but she inspire me and was one of the my favorite teachers. Her math class truly help me when I got to college I was able to compete with the best.
The most inspiring teacher at Central Academy High was none other than Edwin R. Williams my father. He was an exceptionally, phenonmal, inspiring and intellectual man. He taught me so much about life and what it takes to be a successful adult. I am sure others can attest to this fact.
The marching bulldogs was my other true experience. What a band under the leadership of Abraham Alexander. The band played a large part of my high school life. Practice, performance, road trips and social interaction with many friends.
Back to the infamous class of 12D. What about the play we put on during assembly written by James Hankins. The song we sang I think was "A Sun Beam"
The football team, the basketball team and the track team was all the best of the best. We truly had stars on the teams but only if we had the right recruiting opportunities no doubt some should be playing with the pros.
Those were the good old days and I am thankful for the memories.
College
After graduating from Dear Old CA, I venture on to bigger and I thought better grounds. I traveled by train with my trunks filled with college things and I was happy to met and make new friends but also a little sad to leave my family.
While traveling on the train I met some kids headed to Tennessee State University (TSU) right along with me and can you believe those friends that I met on that train also became my life friends.
My freshman year was interesting. My really first time away from home and on my own. Life at Tennessee State was different than I could have ever imagined. Just imagine 4,000 or more 18 year olds and young adults on their own. You learn how to survive in the real world of competition. I thought I was one of the top students at Central Academy. I made the honor roll every nine weeks for my entire time I was in high school. How different is college with the majority of the students coming from basically the same experience high school honor students. So you learn that in order to survive and compete for the best you had to put your best feet forward and let no one deter you from achieving the goals you set for yourself as well as your family.
I develop good rapports with some of my teachers and some were not so memorable. You were ...Expand for more
just a student with a number and your main focus was your education. I met people from a lot of different places Atlanta, Tenn, Alabama, Chicago, Milwaukee, East St Louis, Kentucy and other places.
The dormatory life is different 2 - 4 women sharing a room can be difficult especially because of all the different personalities and backgrounds. I was fortunately to have good pleasant roommates from freshman to my senior year.
The college cafeteria was not mom's home cook. It was a lot to desire but you learn to survive and you find other means to eating.
My most memorable and will always be a lasting one is pledging as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. What an enormous experience. Greek sisterhood. The parties, the games, the school talent shows, school plays and the entire school experience is a one in a lifetime especially at a historically black college (HBC). Four of the most precious years of my life, BS with a major in home economics and a minor in science
Graduate School was equally as rewarding but on a different level. Most of the students were a little more older and more mature and had a little taste of the real world in terms of politics, work world, being on your own and adulthood. We were more focus and the experience was equally as challenging and more rewarding. 2 of the most rewarding - MBA with a concentration in accounting
Workplace
My work experience has been unique, rewarding and life challenging. I started by after college coming back home and teaching high school mathematics. What a experience and a lasting experience and one that I talk about often. I now know that I can have made a difference had I continue teaching because I know there were kids in that community that need a young African American to understand and fight for them.
I wanted more so I decided to go a step further by teaching on the college level and what a more challenging and rewarding experience. I have met and talked to numerous of students who's life I touch in a positive way. All I every wanted was to make a different (I guess I get it from my daddy). Again I wanted something more rewarding financially and intellectually challenging off I go again.
Becoming a Certified Public Accountant, oh what a wonderful feeling. An enormous accomplishment for a young female African American. First, working with the most hated form of the government the Internal Revenue Service as a Tax Auditor.
Secondly, owning my on CPA firm which utilized all of my time and effort and currently as Chief Financial Officer managing the accounting department of a not-for profit organization. What a challenge and one that I enjoy and love.
There were other some jobs in between the four major ones. I once heard someone said that a butterfly needs to spread their wings and fly. I can relate because I want to believe that's what I needed to do.
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