SE: Why go after so many degrees?
Dr. Charles: “Once I got into
African American Literature, and
saw myself in the Literature, there
was so much more I needed to
know.”
SE: Did you ever have any doubts
that you would not be able to
accomplish this?
Dr. Charles: “Oh yeah! I didn’t even
think I would graduate High School.
When I finished high school, I
went to Undergrad and then left
for about 3 or 4 years because it was
expensive. I left Bennett in 2002
and then went back in 2006. When
you get out in the real world, and
realize that you don’t have enough
to make it, you have some tough
choices to make, so I went back.”
SE: To everyone who has seen or
heard your story, what do you want
them to take from it?
Dr. Charles: “Foster kids are my
passion. Their odds are against them
in the beginning. There is a stigma
attached to foster care. Young people
of color are affected by the Child
Welfare System. So I hope they can
see a glimmer of hope, and that
the idea that they can do absolutely
anything. I hope they take the
positive things of their story.”
“Most foster kids are adaptive. They
can adapt to just about anything . . .
Life throws you curve balls; you can
either swing at them or just watch
them go by. If they take that energy
and look at things people look at as
negative, and look at it as a positive
light, I really think they can change
the world around them. I hope they
realize their resilience. That is the
first inkling that I knew I could still
do this thing! All I needed was a
little bit of hope!”
Dr. Julia Charles received her PhD
in African American Studies, with
a concentration on 19th & 20th
Literature and Culture, and will join
the faculty at Auburn University as
Assistant Professor of Early African
American Literature in the fall. You
can find her on Facebook.
www.simplyelevate.com
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