Being sexual assaulted at the age
of three by your own family member, being a fatherless daughter, and becoming a
teen mom statistic, you would think these trials and tribulations would
suppress a person abilities but Ms. Jamie Kellam has succeeded well beyond her
familiar grief.
As
cases of childhood sexual
abuse become more common no one looks at the after effects on the human
psyche. According to www.victimsofcrime.org,
1 in 5 girls are sexual assaulted and 1 in 20 boys are sexually assaulted. Most
assaults occur during the vulnerable ages of 7 to 13, Jamie’s sexual assault
started at the tender age of 3.
“I
never let what happened to me as a child effect my future,” says Jamie.
“I knew I was different and I decided at an early age I wouldn’t let a tragedy
write my history,” she says.
As
a child, Jamie used her tenacity and wit to overcome childhood grief. She
excelled in academics, especially in English, Math and pretty much every other
subject.
Jamie’s
teachers constantly praised her for being an exceptional student. She enjoyed
school so much she never wanted to leave and cried when she had to go.
“She
was always into books and learning, says Nina Albari Jamie’s cousin. “She never
wanted to leave school it was weird to see a child like that at an early age,”
she said.
Jamie kept excelling in school
and things seemed to be looking up for the straight A student. Like any other
adolescent the curiosity of sex starts to linger in the mind. Most young adolescents
give in to the temptation for the opposite sex, many not knowing the
repercussions of sex.
Photo courtesy of Jamie Kellam on Pinterest
At the age of 16
Jamie became pregnant by her high school sweetheart. She decided to have the child, she gave birth
to a beautiful baby girl named Chyenne Butler-Sanchez three days after her 17th
birthday.
According to www.teenagepregnancystatistics.org,
about 90 percent of pregnant teens across the country drop out of high school.
Pregnant teens that are of black or Hispanic
descent are more likely to drop out because of socioeconomic
backgrounds.
“She didn’t let
the pregnancy stop her ambition,” says Sonjia a.k.a. “Sunni” Butler, Jamie’s
mother. “She finished her studies like a regular child and exceeded past my
expectations.”
Jamie went on to
graduate high school on time despite her teenage pregnancy. She then attended Saint Paul’s College in Virginia,
majoring in Political Science. She would go on to graduate Cum
Laude.
During college she
took a spring break vacation to Atlanta, GA attending the popular festival “Freaknik.”
From that moment on, she was determined to make her way there.
Eventually moving
to the peach state, bringing her daughter with her she prospered as a Paralegal.
Even though progression brings
success it sometimes brings distress. Jamie had to handle the pressures of
being homeless at one point, becoming a late night dance specialist all while
raising a daughter.
“I have been
through a lot, Jamie says. “I needed a fresh start and when I went to Atlanta I
was like I gotta move here!” she chuckles.
Photo courtesy of Jamie Kellam on social network Twitter
Eventually
Jamie returned to school to begin working on her master’s degree in English.
She chose to attend the highly acclaimed Clayton
State University in Morrow, GA.
Jamie
graduated from college in 2012. Continuing her education proved to be a success
when she was hired at Atlanta Metropolitan State
College as an Academic Center for Success tutor.
“It’s
been so different up here ever since she came,” says Karina Brown education
major. “The air isn’t so tense, she so nice and pleasant and always willing to
help,” she says.
Working
with the students at Atlanta Metro has sparked a bug in Ms. Kellam. She is here
to ensure that the students receive the proper feedback on their papers,
projects and homework so teaching them should be a breeze.
Jamie
now teaches at her Alma
Mater Clayton State University as an English 1101 and 1102 professor. Jamie
also teaches at Georgia Perimeter College,
Ecore and Southern New Hampshire University, the latter are online schools.
“I
could imagine she’s a great teacher,” says Aisha Jefferson a student at Atlanta
Metro. “She’s such a good tutor, she explains things so well I’m sure her
teaching is useful,” she said.
Soon
the new professor will spearhead the Supplemental Instruction department. The
brand-new department has already helped some students with its tutoring
specialist.
Jamie
also plans on continuing her education, she wants to receive a Doctorate in
English as well as her Juris Doctor.
“The
new add on programs are great I think,” says Kenneth Greggs, a second year
student of Atlm. “I can get help almost anytime I need it now and I’m sure
she’ll be great heading this wonderful program,” he said.
In
the end, succeeding is something you must choose within yourself. Letting the
troubles of life can no longer be an excuse after hearing her story.
Jamie
Kellam is an inspiration to the students the faculty and everyone she
encounters. This unforgettable story of progression and not becoming a negative
statistic can be our guide for overcoming strife and tribulations.
“I
thank the people around me for pushing me to greatness,” says Jamie. “I thank
my pain for pushing me too,” she says.
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