As a writer, I was born with words and stories of hope. When I was four, my mother let me construct words on a typewriter, always encouraging me to create more. Through years, she gave me words of strength, hope, and love that pushed me to become first person on both sides of my family to graduate from college.

When I was in college, my English professor, Dr. Joanne Dempsey, told me one rainy day, "One day, you will be a writer." I've kept these women's powerful words in my heart and have, in turn, tried to give words of hope and encouragement to others.

Through years, I have tried to pass on legacy that Dr. Dempsey, perhaps unknowingly, left for me that one rainy day. She taught me, as did my mother, that words spoken to an impressionable mind can invoke a sense of purpose that fulfills a destiny. For, indeed, all of us have a purpose. Our purpose lies like a tiny ember in our heart, stoked into brilliant flame by kind words of a stranger, a mentor, a parent, or a friend. A teacher can tell a struggling student, “You’re smart,” and those words help him find confidence to become President of United States. A stranger can say “You’re pretty” to a young girl from Mississippi and those words help her become a beloved humanitarian. A parent can say, “You’re special,” and those words can help his children unleash power of potential.

Each day I give my two daughters, Dempsey and Ceiley, words to reach forward and fulfill their purpose. I believe that we are given gift of a child and, like wise elders of years past, we are meant to infuse them with all of our history and knowledge. The words of past and words of future connect us all like links in a chain. All powerful words give hope. The mightiest words are those we share with our children. They must know words of our ancestors for all families are linked together like a chain. Children must know value of their particular link. They must strengthen their bond and pass on words to their children so that future generations can grow in spirit.