Growing up in the Kingdom Hall as a Jehovah’s Witness, best-selling author Tiffany L. Warren never knew her struggles with faith would define her destiny.

Black History Month is not just an ordinary month where our youth learn about the struggles and triumphs of our ancestors.  It is vital to our children’s education and social identity.

Growing up, Monica Watson, of Country Club Hills, Ill., always knew she wanted to be a businesswoman but never had any real career goals or guidance. She was just concerned about making money to support herself. Today, she is a certified financial advisor with a stable and challenging career and is one of the best in her industry. Watson has always used her “pitfalls to as motivation to succeed.”

When TMZ, a Canadian celebrity gossip website, was the first to announce the death of music legend Michael Jackson, many wondered where were the traditional journalism outlets to report this great tragedy.

Junichia Hubbard had hefty periods, unbearable abdominal pains and fibroids that would soon become a bigger matter than she expected. She took birth control pills to slow her cycle and decrease the pain, which was not enough. Hubbard was a senior in high school when a fibroid tumor was detected during a regular check-up.

Being a Christian is a way of life for many people in the world. But when temptations rise, balancing spirituality and everyday life becomes a greater challenge. In the college atmosphere, sustaining your faith and walking with the Lord can become very complicated.

Shannan Holman is a World History teacher at Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, Ill. She vows to give students a worldly education and teach them to dream beyond their backyard.