“You can do anything you set your mine to do all you have to do is try.” That is my moto. It is what I (Marilyn Downey) live by. I also teacher it to the EC (Exceptional Children) students that I work with at the middle school where I am a Teacher’s Assistant. I live in Oxford, NC. I am married to a fabulous man, who is the love of my life. We have a terrific daughter that is not only a great role model for her children she also is a role model for me. We have two wonderful grandchildren that we are so proud of. These four people are the center of my life. I am a person that believes” if you don’t belief in yourself no one else will.” This is what my husband and I taught our daughter and she is passing it on down to her children. I believe that I can and should be whatever I choose to be. I am a junior at North Carolina Central University where I am majoring in education. All of what I do is because of my family. When I began taking my classes the supportive of what I was doing was so emotional for me. My family was there for me 100%. With all of that being said, I know how I felt when I graduated from Vance-Granville Community College in 200, I just can’t imagine what it will be like when I walk across that stage on graduation day. I say that because youngest of twelve siblings and the only one of them that has every graduated from college.

Hey there, I’m Marilyn.