A High School Dropout

I was reminded about something I had forgotten about. How when I was in the 10th grade I had planned to drop out of school. The thought came back to me when I was asked to emcee a cap toss ceremony for graduates of an adult education program. These were students who had earned their GED.

Arkansas actually has an impressive track record when it comes to its Department of Career Education, Adult Education Division. In 2017, 87 percent of Arkansans passed their GED test and received a High School diploma. Many of these students chose to pursue postsecondary education and high-skilled, higher paying jobs compared to their non GED counterparts.

During the ceremony we heard from graduate, Makiya Wilkerson. She gave a heart wrenching speech about how people closest to her often said she would never amount to anything. They — including some family members — tried to make her feel she could never achieve the status of a high school diploma earner. She told her fellow students that sometimes you have to walk away from people who try to diminish your hopes and dreams. I could tell her dreams are deep seeded in her heart and now she’s headed to college.

Being around these students reminded me how easily I could have ended up in their position. So I told them my story. I told them how in the 10th grade I became pregnant and dropped out of school. As my belly grew bigger I just couldn’t face my classmates anymore. So for a whole two weeks I was absent. It would have lasted indefinitely had it not been for a teacher who told my counselor to contact my parents. She said we can’t let Donna drop out of school — so I ended up going to an educational program designed for girls who were like me — pregnant. After my daughter  Queah was born I went back to my high school, graduated with my class and four years later earned a college degree in broadcasting.

I never really talked about it publicly until that graduation day. I really hadn’t thought about it because it seems like a lifetime ago.  Life has changed so dramatically since then.

I told those new graduates that if I can accomplish my dreams so can they. Here’s what I tell people all the time – from young students in high school to adults – what ever in life you want to achieve you must desire it in your heart and not just your head. Despite being a teenaged mom, deep in my heart was a dream to have a career in television news.  Yes — I felt it in my heart and not just my head and that kept me going through the tough times.

Dreams can formulate in your head but you must feel it in your heart. For many of us when that happens — despite adversity, despite heartbreak, despite disappointment and the people who try to discourage — we become UNSTOPPABLE.

Triumph Over Tragedy

I was touched by a story I reported on recently for Fox16 News at 9.  It was a feature called “Triumph Over Tragedy” and it focused on a Little Rock woman that some of you may know.  Her name is Linda Rowe Thomas.

Linda is a fashion designer and has created some of the most memorable evening gowns in all of central Arkansas.  She has a studio in downtown Little Rock on Center Street and her fashions have graced runways here and throughout the country including several times at the esteemed New York Fashion Week.

Linda has the ability to create intricate details like hand beading on gowns that turn out to be some of the most incredible creations.  She told me she wanted to be a fashion designer for as long as she could remember but didn’t know it was a real job until she was about 10 years old and saw the Diana Ross movie, Mahogany.  In the movie Ross played a fashion designer. But Linda’s initial desire to create fashions was born out of tragedy.  When she was only two years old she was the victim of a fire.  A kerosene heater exploded as she and her six year old sister stood next to it.  Her sister died from her injuries.  Linda was disfigured by the tragedy and over the years told me she has had too many reconstructive surgeries to count.

When she was very young, doctors wanted her to do physical therapy because the explosion left her without fingers on one hand and only a few on the other.  While the young child was resistant — her mother came up with an idea.  She taught her daughter to sew so that she could use her hands.  She started off making little doll clothes and when using her hands became too tough her mother would tell her to “figure it out”.  Linda told me her mother was a driving force in teaching her to master many things with her hands.  Her mother also treated her like any other normal child and held her to the same standards and expectations.  As Linda likes to say – “I wasn’t treated any differently than anyone else”.  That was the key to creating a strong woman who felt she could conquer anything.

And these days she’s doing just that. Linda has gracefully wardrobed people all over the country, from locals to national celebrities.  She has certainly been, and still is a success in the fashion industry, but she tells me she’s no where near being finished.  Her goal is to become a household name – not just through fashion but through books and public speaking.  On any given day – Linda is on Instagram encouraging all of us to live our best lives.  One might think we would be trying to encourage her but she seems to be leading the charge in that category.

I admire Linda Rowe Thomas for setting an example and being a game changer.  So many times we find excuses as to why we can’t achieve our dreams.  At two years old her life and her body was tremendously scarred.  And even though she still has scars today – you forget about them when you hear her speak, realize her body of fashion work and consider the life this mother of two has led.

She expressed her desire to continue her work inspiring other burn survivors through her Designing Hope Foundation.  But she also wants to reach the rest of us because — as she tells it – not all scars are visible.  Some people’s scars are internal and they too need inspiration to triumph over tragedy.

Emily: Gone Too Soon

Not long ago I was having lunch with a friend and was brought to tears because of hurt, anger and disappointment. I had been trying to line up stories for Fox16 News about colon cancer and young people.  Last year I interviewed 26 year-old Emily Williams from Searcy.  She was dealing with stage 4 colon cancer and I was captivated by her.  She was bright, upbeat and uplifting in so many ways.  During the interview, she was all smiles — even as she went through chemotherapy treatment.  I liked her so much that I asked if she’d be willing to be a participant in a promo we created at the station showcasing our annual Donna Terrell’s Yoga Warriors Fighting Colon Cancer event.  Weeks later, there she was — front and center — at the annual event.  I really liked Emily a lot.


This non-profit organization I created raises money for liquid nutritional supplements for cancer survivors — a much needed source of nourishment to, among other things, help repair damaged cells caused by cancer and its associated treatments.  We also pay for free yoga four times a month for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers at the Carti Cancer Facility — and participants don’t even have to have a connection to any of the Carti doctors.  They can just come and do yoga, enjoy and relax.


As our 5th annual event drew closer I wanted to do a follow up story on Emily.  A 2017 American Cancer Society study showed the number of young people between 20 and 54 dying from colon cancer has been on the rise since the mid 2000’s.  Emily, now 27, would be a perfect example of a young person determined to beat this disease.  I quickly learned that Emily had passed away last December.


My heart broke.  I got the message right before it was time to anchor a newscast and for a moment I didn’t think I was going to be able to get through it.


I tracked down Emily’s dad and spoke with him the next day.  I’m part of the club no one wants to be in – parents who have lost a child to colon cancer.   Even as a club member, I barely knew what to say to him.  Finally, I told him I just wanted him to know that I cared.  He was gracious and told me how much Emily enjoyed being associated with Yoga Warriors and Fox 16.  We talked about Emily for quite some time.


The day I was brought to tears at lunch with my friend was a day or two after I found out about Emily’s death.  I was hurt because we lost another young person to this awful disease – disappointed because I won’t see her again and angry because with all the work we put into Yoga Warriors we can’t save young people like Emily.  My friend who was sitting across the table reminded me that we — Yoga Warriors — are making a difference.  We’re saving – some of them – because the organization raises awareness that you’re never too young to get colon cancer and to pay attention to changes in your body.  We preach that message as often as possible.  We talk about the warning signs and tell people young and old that you should never take your health for granted. Pay attention to changes in your body and don’t be afraid to see a doctor.  Get a second opinion if what you’re hearing doesn’t add up.


I am still hurt that we lost Emily, I am also hurt we lost another young person, Jessica Flanigin-West last August — and of course I will forever grieve my daughter, Queah’s death from colon cancer.   But I will take this hurt, anger and disappointment and keep trying to turn it into a positive.  Hopefully the next time I write a story about this issue it will not be about a young life cut short — but one that was saved through awareness.

Learn about us at www.yogawarriors.org


Page 2 of 10<12345...>>>