Dr. Catiliotti, Me, LaTrice Curtis, Karen Drake and Professor Cobb

What can I say about Coppin?  Well, I can say that my Alma Mater did it up for me again.  When Water In A Broken Glass was published back in 2000, my professors gave me not one but two booksignings.  On Tuesday, November 8th, my professors gave me not one but two booksignings again.  And the support was just as wonderful.

Tara Turn from the alumni association put the signing in the electronic newsletter.  And the next thing I know, I’m getting hits from everyone who saw it.  LaTrice Curtis and Karen Drake who work and attend Coppin contacted me and come out to support.

Professor Ann Cobb and Dr. Cataliotti, who taught me how to read and write about litature organized the signing for me.  They were so proud of me, but I am honored to have been in their classes, because I wouldn’t write the way I do if they didn’t teach me about Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, James Baldwin, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Toni Cade Bambara, Paule Marshall, Octavia Butler, Richard Wright and Zora Neale Hurston.  They sparked something in me that I didn’t know was there.  Even though I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was 9, I didn’t believe I had what it takes.  They, along with so many other great professors at Coppin, pushed me until I decided to give it a try.  That’s when I wrote Water.

Some people believe Coppin is a low rate school.  I believe Coppin is as great a school as you want it to be.  You have to be willing to work.  No one is going to just give you anything.  That’s one of the great things I learned while attending Coppin.  And it is because of this that I was able to do well at the University of Maryland College Park.  Professor Cobb, Dr. Catalliotti, Professor Collins, Professor Courts didn’t cut me any slack.  So when I got to Maryland I was ready to step my academic game up some more.

I will always love Coppin and the professors for helping me write the way I do.