Mar'Shala


Everybody in Madison EIF knows Mar’Shala. She is always in the Education is Freedom room, talking with friends, tapping away on her laptop, and helping out classmates—especially with their technical difficulties. “All these kids in EIF are like, ‘Mar’Shala my computer doesn’t work,” “Mar’Shala, my sound doesn’t work.” For that reason, Mar’Shala wants to study computers and information technology when she heads to Oklahoma University, in the fall. But don’t worry, she’ll be back. “Success is receiving an education and growing into a person that gives back and doesn’t forget where they came from,” she says. It fits in nicely with her favorite quote, “Today happened like it did so that tomorrow can happen like it should,” which she just happened to crib from her favorite reality TV show on the BET network. Along with her hard work in school, Mar’Shala stays active in Young Life, and she says since she’s joined she’s seen a positive change in her overall character. “I’m proud that I’m like, what’s the word?” she says, searching for the perfect adjective to describe herself. “That I’m not a quitter.”

How long have you been in EIF?
Four years.

Was there a particular person who encouraged you to join?
Yes, the EIF people. They were like, it’ll really prepare you for college and I thought, “What could it hurt?”

How does your mom support you when it comes to school?
She’s knows I’m capable of going but not just going, graduating…and going further, with like a master’s. She’s like, “You can’t get anything with a high school diploma.”

Where do you want to be in 10 years?
I want to be married with at least one kid, have a master's, a house—but I don’t want a big, ole house. I just want, like, five or six bedrooms… I want to be married having kids. I don’t want to not be married with kids and have to struggle. I don’t want to struggle.

Who do you look up to?
Miss April [of Young Life], she’s like a big sister. And considering that my sister died…I can call her any time, literally, any time and she’ll answer, and she’ll pray with me. Of course I know she’s not perfect, but she sets a good example.

If a Hollywood star was playing you in a movie, who would it be?
Queen Latifah, because I’ve seen her do roles that are professional and roles that are comedy and the family role.

Are you in sports?
Yes, basketball and softball. [In basketball] I play small forward and sometimes power forward. If I was taller, I would’ve been a center.

What’s your biggest pet-peeve?
When people touch you or, like, tap you to get your attention. I’m like, hey, just call my name.

Who would you most like to meet, living or dead?
I don’t know, because I want to meet Jesus and all that, but I’m a big sports fan so I’d like to meet Candace Parker! She went to Tennessee and was red-shirted in her freshman year, and her sophomore year she was like the second woman ever to dunk in the NCAA tournament.