Leslie Williamson

1. LESLIE R. WILLIAMSON
CIVICS 101

2. • My name is Leslie Williamson, I come from a small family of four. I am the eldest
of two girls. My father is a retired Chicago Public School High School Teacher.
My mother was a Site Director for the Chicago Department of Children and
Family Services. My mother passed away in 2011. I was in the first, first grade
class of Robert A. Black Magnet School in 1968. At that time it was one of the
first schools of it’s kind. I was very fortunate. I received an excellent primary
education. I went on to Whitney M. Young High School as a freshmen in 1976,
the first year that school had a freshman class. The school attracted a high
number of talented students. Michele Obama attended there at the same time I
did. I was unsure of what career would be best for me. In college I joined the
band and took photography courses along with math and science courses.
Unfortunately I did not finish my education and that began a long history of
being either under employed or working in the suburbs far from my south side
home.

3. • From 1987 to 1993 I traveled 2 hours and 15 minutes each way on the bus to
the a full time job at Xerox Corporation in Park Ridge, IL. I had a son at age 20.
He had to let himself in the house after school, and wait for me to get home. I
worked as a waitress, temped as a office clerk and in supplies at a hospital My
son and I never had enough money. I struggled to make ends meet. In 2004 I
was accepted and matriculated through the Registered Nursing Program at
Malcolm X College. I could not afford to take the the pre requisite courses (
Anatomy, Micro bio, math) first. I had to take the pre req’s and the Nursing
courses together. I could not afford to pay rent and go to school full time for 4
years. I received a D in the last Advanced Nursing Med-Surg at the end of the
program and was unable to graduate. I am a great student. I would love to find a
job in technology. I need a pathway. I need to be given a chance to become s
professional. I am a gifted student, but I can not afford an education. I would
like to work full time for the next 20 years.