Two years ago, Natasha Harris, CSUB Director of Special Programs and Student Retention Initiatives, was at a conference with some colleagues. She explained that she was about to leave when Dr. Shree Walker, author, educator, and motivational speaker, got up to speak. She was moved, and at that moment, she knew she needed to get Walker to the CSUB campus so the students could hear her speak.
“It’s a true honor to have this woman on campus… She is truly inspiring, and her message is inspiring,” said Harris. “I want our students to hear the resilience, hear her past, and her story. Take a moment… and just listen to what she says.”
Walker, as a little girl, was perceived by people around her as someone who hated school, as she often kicked and screamed, saying ‘I don’t want to go to school.’ However, what they didn’t understand was that the true cause of her distress was not what she expressed, but rather what she couldn’t.
“The world is filled with monsters with friendly faces,” said Walker. “But under my kitchen table, I decided to change my world.”
As Dr. Walker went through her education, she craved structure and uniformity—and because of the structure she received from her elementary schools up until high school, she had ‘the best of times and the worst of times.’
Despite her success in high school, Walker didn’t believe that she was prepared for college, leaving her with the decision to attend a junior college, ready to be on her way within the world and becoming who she is. During her time at J-School, she encountered another ‘monster, another friendly face.’
“Just because I carry it well doesn’t mean it’s not heavy,” Walker said.
Dr. Walker went through her collegiate journey waking up at 3:00 a.m. and starting her day with a cold bath. Determined to get to the bus at 3:45 a.m., attend practice, and courses, and end her day next to the candlelight in order to complete her coursework. Through her dedication, she was able to get into Tennessee State University.
Her resilience made her a ‘magical disruption,’ with the capability to shatter the environments she steps into—and shattering the environment is exactly what she did.
Through a mindset shift, education, and execution, she told the audience just how they can become more resilient and changemakers within their communities. No one goes through life without experiencing some sort of heartache, pain, or trial; you have to be willing to sit in the uncomfortability that comes with change, said Walker.
“Are you willing to be uncomfortable?” asked Walker. “Do you know how much it costs to change? You didn’t come this far, just to come this far.”
Knowledge without action is meaningless, you have to take the information that you are learning and help change the system so that you have the opportunity to be an asset to help change someone else’s system, Walker said.
“This space [CSUB] is preparing you for the next space,” said Walker as she called out four CSUB community members who were rewarded with an ‘acknowledgment award of being a resilient walker.’
Minaya Valentine, CSUB senior, shared that she comes from an immigrant background and that she had to become resilient because of those around her telling her that she didn’t belong. She thanked Walker for reminding her that she is powerful.
First-generation college student, Jada Norris, was moved to tears by the award, thankful that her hard work was noticed.
“It’s very special and important that I receive this because it’s recognition for the hard work that I do,” Norris said.
Walker encourages students to learn what they need to learn about themselves in order to change their mindset, and allow people to have their humanity in life and not judge those around them for their choices without understanding their options.
The audience was moved, to the point that they gave Walker a standing ovation. As they left the room, they carried with them a newfound sense of resilience, stronger than when they had first entered.
