Big Sis

“What happened what did you do Steffenie?”

“Can we just go to the living room so I can tell you all?”

“Okay let’s go” Said her mother.

Even through this dilemma Steffenie was able to bring good things out of this and saw her child as a blessing.  In the same way she was for her mother Monique.

It was 1983 on a cold December 2^nd day in Landsthul, Germany when she was born.  This little girl was Steffenie Love, at the time.  Steffenie was one of the many children in this world born into the military.  She lived in Germany for three years before her, her mother Monique Love, and grandparents moved to Upstate New York.  Steffenie and her mother Monique moved to Fort Drum, New York where her mother joined the military.  In the years to come it was yet known what influence and impact Steffenie would have on her community. 

            Steffenie would begin school at Black River Elementary at the age of five.  This is where she would find out she was gifted academically.  Steffenie was always a step ahead of the other students when it came to learning.  Steffenie says, “It’s not that I knew everything, it just came easy to me and I didn’t have to spend a lot of time learning something.” Five years later Steffenie would be faced with a big change in her life. 

            On November 16, 1989 Steffenie found herself at a wedding.  Her mother was getting married to a man who her mother met in the military.  His name was Robert Howell.  Robert also had a daughter the same age as Steffenie.  Together the two would grow up together for the next six years.  A year later from her mother’s marriage, Quincy Howell Steffenie’s little brother was born on September 30^th.  Living in a new community and still at a young age Steffenie would soon become very involved. 

            Steffenie began to get recognized for her academics when she was in middle school.  When I asked Steffenie exactly how she was recognized she said, “Every time we would get report cards I would get a certificate for making the principles honor role.”  Steffenie’s father Robert said to me, “Getting an education in our household was very important and I quickly learned that this wouldn’t be a problem for Steffenie.”

            Apart from school Steffenie quickly became interested in being a cheerleader.  “Her mother and I signed both our daughters to cheer at the youth center on the base” said by Robert.  Steffenie’s step sister Sabrina said, “We were so excited to cheer for the mountaineers because it was our first time and all of our friends were doing it so we thought it would be fun to do.”  Steffenie would cheerlead for the football and basketball teams at the youth center. Going into high school Steffenie would continue to cheer for her high school until she decided to run track her sophomore year.

            When Steffenie’s mother married Robert they became very active in the church.  For Steffenie she became active in the youth group at the Watertown Church of Christ.  Steffenie told me, “I had fun going to church because there was so much to do with my friends from there and we always did so many different activities.  We would always go to the youth rally in Albany, New York every year as well as go to bible camp during the summers.”  Robert said, “I’ve always believed this was good for not only Steffenie, but my other daughter as well as we would grow in the church together as a family.”  As I asked Steffenie more about how this affected her in her life she told me, “I think because Dad made us go to church I believe this is what made me do so well in school because my attitude was always straight.  I still believe this even though I did make a big mistake in high school.”

                “I remember exactly what she said,” says Marcellus her youngest brother, ‘I just wanted to let you know that I’m pregnant’ I remember like it was yesterday.”

            Her father said, “At the time I was mad and disappointed because it was something I never thought I would have to deal with and didn’t know how to react.” 

 It was January 6^th, 2000 Tyric Scott Love was born at Watertown city hospital.  After having her son Steffenie still continued to attend Carthage Central High School.  On top of school she would also work a job at Burger King to take care of her son.  “Steffenie showed a lot of responsibility” says her father.  “Even though I made a big mistake I would still do what I needed to do to take care of my baby and finish school” Steffenie says.  Steffenie later got a job working at the Burger King on the base and would later work at the PX across the street.  Soon things would pay off and things could only get better for Steffenie.

           

“A lot of people didn’t think this would happen and truthfully I didn’t either” said Steffenie.  It was June of 2001 when Steffenie graduated from Carthage Central High School.  Not to mention she graduated with honors and accomplished this only after her junior year of school.  “I know these were hard times for her and we really got on her but she was still able to do great in school” her father said.  After graduating from high school Steffenie continued to work her job.  Steffenie bought her first car on her on and shortly after that moved into her own apartment with her son.  Steffenie said, “It was difficult but with my mother’s help I was able to find a good apartment and make it on my own.”  Being a single mother Steffenie wasn’t able to attend college but she would soon experience something, “crazy” as she puts it, and be ready for it.

             The summer of 2002 Steffenie decided to move to Fort Stewart, Georgia with the rest of her family.  Moving to Georgia Steffenie would become more independent.  Steffenie soon began to rent out an apartment for her son and herself.  Steffenie started her first job at the Fort Stewart Credit Union on base.  Steffenie says, “This job was really convenient for me because it was close to home and I could always stop by my mom’s home after work.  Again Steffenie would become more independent and really be on her own.

            Not even being in Georgia for a year after Steffenie’s father returned safely from Iraq her two younger brothers, mother, and father moved to Chicago where he was stationed.  “Me personally I was tired of moving so I decided to stay in Georgia because I had an “OK” job and I had family close so I would be fine” said Steffenie.  It’s said that everything happens for a reason and this was the case for Steffenie.  While her family was living in Chicago and her and her son were still in Georgia Steffenie was busy meeting her future husband Nigel Willis.  Steffenie got married to Nigel and moved to Atlanta. 

            While in Atlanta Steffenie would attend a couple of night classes and would eventually get a job as an orthodontist assistant.  Her husband Nigel also joined the military while in Atlanta and would soon be sent overseas for duty.  While Nigel was overseas Steffenie had her second child, little Giselle Monique Willis.  Again she would stop work to take care of the newborn and by this time her son Tyric was seven years old so he was old enough to go to day care after school and help his mother out around the house.  Once again Steffenie was ready again for another move.

            “Tyric get inside this house right now!”

            “But mom!”

            “Nigel can you watch Giselle while I go get Tyric?”

            Steffenie says, “Never in a million years would I think that I would be a stay at home mother with two children but I love it.”

            Overcoming a major dilemma at a young age in High School and being successful with the work force and now a mother Steffenie Love Willis is a great role model for her community.