On Presidents... (with a note to Howard University!)

Somewhere, I still have in my memoirs a signed letter from our beloved late president, Ronald Wilson Reagan. I was in the third grade when I received it, a congratulatory note for making the honor roll which encouraged me to keep it up.

In my child's mind, I truly believed that sitting in his oval office with Nancy one day, President Reagan had really read my grade card and actually knew who I was, a young and spunky child living in Toledo, Ohio. That motivated me for years. And, no, I do not mind at all if you think that's corny. I was a kid, okay? :)

Years later, I was a long-term substitute teacher and--in Regis & Kelly fashion--I'd start every day with my mug (of Gatorade) and we'd discuss the newspaper or what they'd seen on the news that morning (a daily extra credit assignment). One day I had them all write letters to our president (George W. Bush) and, together, we walked up the street from the school and each of us mailed our letter.

There swelled the same pride in the hearts of my students that--many years ago--had grown in my own upon reading Ronald Reagan's letter. They, too, believed that they mattered to the president, that he might actually care that they existed. That means something to a child, you know?

I had a third grade student--Diamonte was his name--who, on my first day as their long-term substitute, told me that he wanted to someday become the first Black president of the United States. Gifted with intelligence, I didn't doubt that he could. Hopelessly affected by inspiration, I called him "Mr. President" for the entire school year, as did his classmates follow suit.

Long before we were inspired today to "Barock the Vote", I, and thousands of other college students, exerienced a similar "Change" worth believing in :)

I was a freshman when Dr. Sidney A . Ribeau became the first Black president at Bowling Green State University, a big college in a small rural town in Ohio. It was an inspiring period of history and a milestone in my collegiate memories.

Under Dr. Ribeau's leadership, we--as his student body--were stimulated to believe in our own voices. I became a two-term senator in the Undergraduate Student Government, Coordinator of Multi-Cultural Affairs on the cabinet for three terms and for two years in a row served on the Student-Faculty Advisory Committee. A desire to make a difference inspired me to want to dedicate myself in this way but it was Dr. Ribeau's leadership that propelled me--and the many others who served--to believe our actions worthwhile.

I remember a group of us college kids campaigning, once in the rain even, for President Bill Clinton's re-election and also for the election of local politicians.

All because of an innate American desire, to have a leader in office who we felt truly cared.

During my years at BGSU, it was not unusual to see Dr. Ribeau on campus and have him ask, "How are things going?" and, upon answering him, to feel in your heart and see in his eyes that he really cared. He didn't have to know your name and you didn't have to be doing anything special to make him say hello. It was evident in his presence that Dr. Ribeau just wanted each of us to be our personal best.

I will never forget it, my senior year at BGSU, when Dr. Ribeau invited some of us who'd served as student leaders over to his home for dinner... just as an effort to say to us, "Job well done."

I will never forget it, the tears welling in my eyes on graduation day and the flood gates that opened for them when Dr. Ribeau--who gave our commencement address--mentioned my name. Something ignited inside of me. I would, I decided then, take with me and hold dearly his encouragement to be our best in society.

Nor, will I ever forget it, just four years after graduating, returning to BGSU as an alumni to give the keynote commencement address. I walked in with Dr. Ribeau and sat beside him on stage. And, though a budding novelist, I was still his starry eyed student inspired by a president who led in a way that validated all of our endeavors. I thanked him then and I will always be grateful for having studied under Dr. Ribeau's leadership.

This is Dr. Ribeau's first year at his new home, Howard University, and I pray that the lovely people in D.C. are good to him. RIbeau's is a leadership in which to truly cherish.

And ours, The United States, a country in which to remember that our leader can--and should--be the someone that even those not yet old enough to vote truly believe cares. May we all, no matter if you vote Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama for president, remember this on November 4th! Here's to presidents who not only represent, but also inspire us to be the change we want to see in the world.

Love!

P. Marie