4 The Southfield Jay / December 2006
Q Q & & A A with with Southf Southfield Southf ield High’s High’s ‘Gr ‘Grandma’ ‘Gr andma’ By Personna Hover Staff Writer “Grandma” is the school’s popular lunch moni<strong>to</strong>r who oversees the cafeteria and gives hugs <strong>to</strong> all who greet her. Few know her real name even though she hugs them daily. Here’s what Grandma has <strong>to</strong> say. Q: Why do you like everyo<strong>ne</strong> <strong>to</strong> call you Grandma? A: I like being called Grandma because my oldest grandson is 20 years old. I feel like a grandma more when the kids call me Grandma. Q: How old are you and what is your real name? A: My real name is Margo Virginia Anderson, but I still prefer being called Grandma. I am 63 years old. Q: Why do you yodel during lunch? A: Why? Do the kids want me <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p? You know I’ve always been a loud child. It’s just something in me that I must let out. I guess you can say I’m’ relieving stress when I scream. Q: Do you have any grandchildren of your own? A: Yes I have plenty of grandchildren. I have two kids of my own. My oldest child, Pamela Suttles, is 45, and my son’s name is Keith Anderson, and he’s 44. Al<strong>to</strong>gether I have six grandchildren and o<strong>ne</strong> great grandson. Q: What is your job exactly? A: My job is simple, <strong>to</strong> watch over my babies. I make sure they don’t fight, and I clean the tables after they leave during lunch. Q: Where did you work before you came <strong>to</strong> Southfield High? A: I worked at the Royal Oak Post Office for 31 years. My job there was <strong>to</strong> handle packages and unload the mail off the dock. Q: What do you want for Christmas? A: I want a jumbo Sudoku book with <strong>to</strong>ns of math puzzles <strong>to</strong> keep me busy when I’m not watching my kids. Featur eatur eatures eatur es The Southfield Jay / December 2006 5 Studying tudying f ffor f or tw two tw Junior balances motherhood and math By Mia Fleming Staff Writer Usually, role models are seen in class valedic<strong>to</strong>rians and presidents of organizations throughout school. They’re known as the crème de la crème, and are the students who are expected <strong>to</strong> become leaders of not only the school, but the world. However some have been able <strong>to</strong> find a role model in 17year-oldBrittany Latimer, a pregnant senior at Southfield High <strong>School</strong>. Pregnancy was the unlikley catalyst that sparked Latimer <strong>to</strong> get her act <strong>to</strong>gether in school and at home. Now that she’s studying for two, she says that she’s become more focused on school, and it shows through her improved grades. She says that she is also closer now <strong>to</strong> her mother, Stephanie, who has agreed <strong>to</strong> help her raise the child. Her expected due date is Friday February 23, and says she plans <strong>to</strong> return <strong>to</strong> school as soon as possible after giving birth. Doc<strong>to</strong>rs say a baby boy will soon be born <strong>to</strong> junior Brittany Latimer and senior Don<strong>ne</strong>ll Thomas, a former Southfield High student who now attends Consortium College Prepa<strong>to</strong>ry High <strong>School</strong> in Detroit. “I was scared at first,” said Thomas, about learning that he would be a father. He said he worries about how he’ll care for his child financially but is also “excited” about his future son. Mom-<strong>to</strong>-be says, “My pregnancy helped me focus on my grades, which are improving, and I’m trying <strong>to</strong> become an example for others” in her situation. After buckling down and making school her <strong>to</strong>p priority, everything changed—for the better., “She managed <strong>to</strong> turn what most people would consider a <strong>ne</strong>gative situation around, her attitude completely changing for the better, and stay positive.” ~ Brenda Perryman Latimer says. “It got me focused,” said Latimer. She says she realized that her actions now will affect not only her, but her child, as well. Even though her family started off upset with the situation, they support her now, Latimer says. Her friends have remai<strong>ne</strong>d true <strong>to</strong> her and their relationships. “I make sure <strong>to</strong> tell my friends ‘Don’t make the same mis- takes I did!’ ” She says she does not in any way recommend getting pregnant during high school, but now that she is expecting a child, she says she has <strong>to</strong> do her best in school, for both her sake and her child’s. She says her baby boy ended up being her silver lining, her reason <strong>to</strong> turn her life around at home, at school, and within herself. Not everyo<strong>ne</strong> agrees with her decision <strong>to</strong> keep her baby and attend school during her pregnancy, Latimer says. But Latimer continues <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> class: “People are going <strong>to</strong> stare, regardless of whether you’re pregnant or not.” So she says that she takes the s<strong>ne</strong>ering and stares in stride, confident that she made the best decision for herself, by herself. O<strong>ne</strong> decision she had help on, however, was her upcoming baby shower on Jan. 28, in Sut<strong>to</strong>n Place apartments, that friends and family helped plan. “I just want <strong>to</strong> thank my family and my friends for supporting and believing in me.” Her <strong>ne</strong>xt goal is <strong>to</strong> take care of her child and keep it <strong>to</strong>gether at school. Her earlier ambition was <strong>to</strong> be a fashion model, but now her focus is getting a solid job <strong>to</strong> support her child, perhaps as a nurse. Drama teacher Brenda Perryman says she has watched Latimer change from a girl <strong>to</strong> a young woman. “She managed <strong>to</strong> turn what most people would con- Pho<strong>to</strong> by Mia Fleming Baby and me: Junior Brittany Latimer says her pregnancy encouraged her <strong>to</strong> work harder in school. sider a <strong>ne</strong>gative situation around, her attitude completely changing for the better, and stay positive.” Latimer’s god sister, junior Marchelle Miles, says she supports Latimer’s decision <strong>to</strong> keep her baby and ignore caustic comments about pregnant teens. “I would make the same decision if I was in that position. I admire that she’s not afraid <strong>to</strong> tell people she’s pregnant and that she’s keeping it.”
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