| Aisha's mother—a
single, high school student—was unable to care for her
baby. Aisha never knew her father because he relinquished his
rights to her, thereby forgoing any responsibility to her. Aisha’s
mother was not able to care for her and her maternal grandmother
already had the responsibility of caring for three other children.
Aisha’s great-aunt, Ms. Miriam Hardge, a public school
librarian saw the desperation of the situation and called for
a family meeting. At the meeting, the family agreed that Ms.
Hardge would assume the responsibility of caring for Aisha and
would seek legal custody. Later Ms. Hardge adopted Aisha. Ms.
Hardge is quoted as saying “Aisha has brought joy into
my life that I would not have had.”
Aisha applied for and received the Student
Opportunity Scholarship. She is now a sophomore at Johnson
C. Smith, a Presbyterian-related college and will graduate in
2007. Aisha’s adoptive mother, Ms. Hardge is also a graduate
of Johnson C. Smith, as well as, a recipient of the Samuel Robinson
Essay Contest, which is managed by the Office of Financial Aid
for Studies, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Ms. Hardge received $90 in the 1950s for reciting the Westminster
Shorter Catechism. She was also the official bell ringer at
Johnson C. Smith and for that she received $90 a year. She would
ring the bell for the student’s wake-up call and in-between
classes to announce the beginning and end of classes.
What would have happened to Aisha if not for her aunt stepping
in and making a difference in her life? In the same way, would
Aisha have been able to attend Johnson C. Smith without help
from donors like you?
|
