Ms. Christian was actually my first Black teacher, so it was a monumental step for me. I actually didn’t know how to handle it. Growing up, I was always the only Black child in class or in sports. On top of that, I had very long curly hair. So I would either get my name butchered up, or I would be called a girl. So having a Black teacher was a shock. Like, wow, another Black person besides me. I was grateful because she would help me interact with my race because I didn’t know how to, outside of home. She ended up being my fifth-grade teacher, too. She was pretty much my favorite teacher.
She was hard on me. And, soft with me at times. I didn’t always understand why, but now I do. Without Ms. Christian, I know I definitely would not be who I am today – a humanitarian from the heart. So I will forever be grateful for her.
Sadly, Ms. Christian passed away. She was definitely one of the people I would love to thank because she really changed my life.”
– Dev, junior speech communications major with a concentration in theatre from Chattanooga, Tenn.
