Meet VALERIE HIGH | Writer & Teacher
We had the good fortune of connecting with VALERIE HIGH and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi VALERIE, how do you think about risk?
The word “risk” always seems to immediately present a negative connotation whenever I hear it. The outcome is either going to be pass or fail, sink or swim, be successful or unsuccessful. When it truly comes down to it, “risk” is a direct challenge to do something you’ve never done before. It doesn’t matter if the outcome is something less than what was desired, at least an attempt was made and a lesson was learned from it. Granted, I want to be successful at whatever I put my hands to do, but realistically, many times, that will not be my outcome. Failure takes on a different face here for me, because failure means I didn’t even try to accept the challenge. The lesson is simple: I’m a winner when I try.
When I was told to write the book Everything for Nothing, that was a risk. I had no formal training in contemporary writing, and I could have immediately used that as an excuse for not accepting the challenge. That would have been taking myself at face value, and shutting down any thoughts of what I could truly accomplish. Instead, I accepted the challenge because I believed that since God called me to it, He was going to qualify me to do it. In the process, God showed me something. It was a picture of a woman called to something greater — a picture of me. He invested some things in me, and the only way I was ever going to see any of it, was to accept risks. When I did, doors opened in my life that caused me to embark on opportunities I otherwise would have shunned. Taking risks often causes my capacity to be extended, because I want to get to know more about the woman in the picture, and what else she can accomplish. Taking risks has helped to reveal the woman that is me.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Initially, my career goal in life was to become an actress in Hollywood. From a teenager into my young adult life, acting was always my first love. I was consumed by it in high school, and I had a direct connection to someone who could get me an audition to Juilliard, the performing arts school in New York City. I cannot remember why I didn’t accept the offer. As fate would have it, there was another path that I was supposed to take, and it led me to education. I became a paraprofessional at an elementary school, simply because it was a better paying job with benefits. Never in a million years would I have ever entertained the thought of being an elementary school teacher, because I never had a desire to teach. However, in that place and space in time as a para, a passion within me began to grow, and my love for teaching was born. I went from being a paraprofessional, to being a private school teacher, to now being a certified public school teacher. For me, there are few things in this life that are as fulfilling as teaching. Helping to lay a child’s academic foundation is absolutely galvanizing to me, and watching them learn to read is priceless. I LOVE what I do! For well over 20 years, I have taught children from preschool through 2nd grade, and I also tutor. Right now, I am a kindergarten teacher, in Douglasville, Georgia.
One of the best lessons I have learned from my students, is that I don’t have to have all of the answers. Sometimes my lack of knowledge is a great place for us to collectively take a journey to find the answers. Seeing through their eyes always gives me a different, and oftentimes, refreshing perspective.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In this regard, I would have to say my life is a little boring. I don’t really hangout. Being a teacher, there are always tasks that tend to creep into the home life, only because I like to be proactive. My best friend would know to scope out the city and make their own itinerary for the both of us.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out to my friend Pam Roberson who read my novel, and believes in my gift of writing so much, she feels it needs to be shared with the masses. Thank you Shawniece Southall, and Sharon High-Williams for your consistent encouragement and belief in me as well. You were the fuel to my fire.
Image Credits
Ericka L. High Beatriz Green
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