Nevertheless, I was fortunate (yes, I say fortunate) enough to meet her when I was in high school. Prior to college application time, I was stuck in a limbo between pursuing the arts (which I did) or attempting something slightly more practical like journalism. Helen spoke at a reporter's panel when I attended the National Young Leaders Conference (waste of money, in my opinion). A majority of the audience was either from Texas or pretty right-wing.
Each reporter (I don't remember who they were now) introduced themselves, what they specialized in, and who they reported for. When it came to Helen, she didn't even introduce her name. She openly criticized Bush administration and US' push into Iraq - all this in lieu of introducing anything about herself, drawing uncomfortable moans from the majority of the audience. She cared little though and persisted with her opinions as the other reporters attempted to remain moderate. And though I'm not always a fan of particularly outspoken people, I had to applaud her (in my head...those kids were crazy) for being outspoken. I had seen her on television before and her reputation was no secret to me.
Helen was escorted with practically no interruption. I went right up to, introduced myself and told her I was thinking about college and journalism. It wasn't that I wanted to meet someone oppossed to the Bush administration or someone simply outspoken. I knew that there was a reputation and almost a legend behind her. She spoke to me simply, kindly, and earnestly. She smiled at me and told me how nice it was to hear what I said and then told me. I regret to say that her exact words after that escape me, but I remember more or less what she said.
Do it. And if you're passionate, do it and don't stop. Get a good education and learn as much as you can. Always be learning.
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