Blog Post 3: A Humble Beginning

My Grandma

Not everyone has the same upbringing. That is what makes us so unique. Our many different diversities shape us into who we are today. My biggest role model did not have the happiest, most luxurious upbringing. In fact, it was a very humbling upbringing. My biggest role model is my Grandma, Judy Williams.

Over a cup of coffee (or maybe several cups), my Grandma and I dove into some of her childhood memories. Some good and some not so good. One memory that is such a sweet one to hear is that of her freshman year homecoming.

My Grandma on her wedding day at age 19
Just 4 years after her Freshman year

She was fifteen years old and a freshman at Dennison High. Her home life was not the greatest. There was no money but her family was full of hard working people. “We didn’t ask for anything but, we were proud of everything we worked for”, she told me. She was always a little bit insecure about not having a lot of money. My Grandma has told me numerous times about the fact that she only had a few dresses and a couple of pairs of socks growing up. I’m sure that was not an easy thing to deal with while being in high school.

It was football season and time for the big homecoming. Students were to vote on who would represent their class as the 1956 Homecoming Attendant. Much to her surprise, Judy Williams was voted freshman class attendant! While to some, this would be an honor, to her it was a stress. The class attendants were to walk across the football field at the homecoming game in their nicest attire. That was the problem… She did not have anything nice to wear.

Homecoming week came and a kind neighbor of my Grandma allowed her to borrow one of their daughters’ dresses for the big night. “This was a really humbling time for me because I felt popular enough to be the homecoming attendant but I had to borrow my dress! It was an honor and at the time, an embarrassment”, she said.

I take so much from this story. It shows that money does not always matter most to people. She had no money, yet students felt she deserved the freshman homecoming attendant award. Character and kindness truly can speak louder than money can. I am so glad she was voted the attendant. She deserves that honor every day, if I could give it to her.