In writing about my college professor, Dr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, I took the viewpoint of a student because I was her student. I saw her in class every day for three years. She became a lifelong role model for me.
My motivation to write Thea Bowman: A Story of Triumph was to give students in grades 6–12 a book to read about her life. Why?
Because literature is important and one way that students can learn about life.
The importance of this book for students and teachers—and librarians, administrators, organizations, and foundations—is to learn facts, yes, but that is not all. Deeper meanings and lessons about life emerge in Thea Bowman: A Story of Triumph.
For example, her attitude.
Attitude?
Thea had a positive attitude about (almost) everything! She was positive about faith, people, learning, teaching, singing, community, literature, justice, and love for all those things. She rose above society’s circumstances to encourage students to think for themselves, to show people how to understand other viewpoints, and to create change peacefully through music.
To do all that, took “attitude.”
To be a teacher like Thea, I had to develop an endlessly positive attitude and leave my comfort zone. Like Thea, I had to be open to meeting and teaching anyone, anywhere.
Thea’s life and attitude are things I continue to learn about, in writing the book and connecting with people and organizations she knew and contributed to. It will be truly fun to continue hearing stories from people and communities who knew or are first learning about Thea Bowman.
