Below is the transcript of Shy’heema’s speech at The Care Center’s 2024 Annual Fundraising Party:
Hello, good evening. My name is Shy’heema Reid. I am 22 years young and I’m a Taurus. I left school when I was 16 because of an incident in my life that made me lose myself.
I am honored to be a mother to a beautiful baby girl, Jordyn. She saved my life. Looking into her eyes when she was born, I just knew I had to get everything right for her. My beautiful gift.
Motherhood Village AKA The Care Center
Three months into this beautiful thing called motherhood I came across something I like to call “Motherhood Village.” You know it as “The Care Center.” As soon as I entered, my daughter instantly had ten aunties! She was loved, and I didn’t know these girls from a can of paint, but hell. I was loved, motivated, fed, and informed.
Breastfeeding was one of the hardest parts. While I studied, my daughter was in The Care Center’s daycare. I thank all my teachers and my counselor (who was also pregnant at the time) for running up and down the stairs multiple times a day to tell me my little bundle of joy needed milk.
Passing the big, bad HiSET tests
I started in The Care Center’s high school-level program. I gave myself two months to pass the high school equivalency (HiSET) tests. I felt so out of place in the classrooms sometimes that I’d get up and walk out. My counselor Carmen encouraged me to schedule a test. I doubted I’d pass my first time but knew I had to try for my daughter. The first test was reading. I passed.
It was like everything I lost was never lost, just hiding behind the other stuff filling my head: my housing situation, prices for baby supplies, rap music. Second test? Social Studies – also passed.
Science, Writing, and even MATH (the big bad bully) – I passed on my first try.
That math test, I was crying at the end. The lady came over and she said, “You okay?” And I’m like “Yes, girl I passed.” She started hugging me. I barely knew this lady and we were hugging in the middle of the library’s testing site.
I never knew how smart I could be, how smart I was, how smart I am. I thank The Care Center every day and of course my Jordyn. They brought that out of me.
Making my family proud
At The Care Center graduation, I was so happy. My dad had a shirt on that said, “Dad of a Graduate.” My worker from the YWCA came and brought me this big huge gift basket. My boyfriend was there holding Jordyn who was crying and screaming because she wanted milk.
While I was celebrating myself, thinking “I did it, I’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.”
My decision to join Bard Microcollege Holyoke
I am currently in my first year at Bard Microcollege Holyoke. When I first started studying at The Care Center, I didn’t see myself in college. But I decided to apply because The Care Center is my home outside of my home. When I learned I could be there longer and get a good old degree out of it, why not? No brainer.
The first semester wasn’t easy. I felt like I was so lost. I was constantly visiting Monica, the college transition counselor. If I had to pay a dollar for every time I told her I wanted to quit, The Care Center would have like $6,000. They wouldn’t need this fundraiser.
And then, one day my cohort went to the gardens at the Wistariahurst Museum. We brought some blankets and some snacks and we were out there reading our papers and talking. I told them, “I feel so lost” and they were like “Girl, me too, oh my god.” We realized that that day that we’re not stupid, we’re just new.
And then, guess what? In my first semester, I got all As. I’ve never been an honor roll student.
The positive impact on my whole family
My dad was so proud he gave me $20. I felt like I was a kid again. My mom was so happy, she was screaming over the phone. Now she’s joining the college too.
Thanks to The Care Center’s new housing program, my daughter and I just moved into an amazing apartment where we’ll be able to stay for five years while I complete my degrees. Yes, you heard that right, degrees.
Focused on the future
After finishing my degree from Bard, (they don’t know it yet) but I will be attending Mount Holyoke for my bachelor’s to become a forensic scientist. As an African American, I believe that diversity within law enforcement is crucial to building trust and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system. Ultimately, I want to contribute to solving crimes and helping to create safer neighborhoods for everyone.
The future doesn’t know it yet, but I am going to change it.
