Becoming

Imagine a young girl growing up in a modest brick bungalow on Chicago’s South Side, surrounded by the persistent plinks of piano lessons from the floor below and the laughter of neighborhood children playing outside. This was a world filled with both warmth and challenge, where the fabric of community was woven tightly with threads of family, music, and shared history. Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own. These words resonate deeply as we reflect on the roots of resilience planted in childhood. The neighborhood, once predominantly white, was transforming, and with it came the shifting tides of hope and uncertainty. Yet within those walls, a family thrived—parents instilling the importance of education, honesty, and hard work, a brother who was both protector and companion, and elders whose stories and music anchored a sense of identity.

The piano, imperfect and worn, symbolized more than just music lessons; it was a metaphor for life itself—full of broken keys and uneven notes, yet capable of producing beauty through persistence. The great-aunt’s strict lessons, the backyard explorations, and the neighborhood’s complex racial tapestry all contributed to a formative experience that shaped the girl's outlook on the world. This early life was not without hardship—health issues shadowed the family, and economic limitations were ever-present—but the strength of community and the love of family provided a sanctuary.

In this section of the journey, we see how the intersection of place, family, and culture creates a foundation for growth. The lessons learned here are timeless: the importance of owning one’s story, the power of perseverance, and the enduring influence of those who nurture us. As we close this chapter of beginnings, we prepare to move forward into the next phase—the pursuit of education and the challenges of stepping into broader worlds.