She couldn't read or write so her kids became her teachers — she then rose from school janitor to assistant principal
Some stories of people making big life transitions are likely to inspire most people who hear about it. A woman who went from being a janitor to an assistant principal at a school has inspired many people through her story. The woman, Pam Talbert, accomplished an astonishing feat at Istrouma Middle School and was beyond excited to start her term as an assistant principal, as per WBRZ. However, Talbert's journey to getting the position was not the easiest one, but she still managed to do it.
"Miracles happen and you're looking at a miracle. I am a miracle, and I'm so blessed to be here," Talbert told the outlet as she recounted her journey to the much-coveted position. "I started off as a janitor," the woman recounted. Talbert remembered that a teacher had asked her if she had ever wanted to become an educator. At the very moment, she had decided she wanted to give it a try. However, that was no cakewalk. "I could not read and write. I was on a third-grade level," she explained. Nonetheless, she got a chance to pursue her goals when she eventually had children. "Everything that my children learned, they would come back and they would sit down with me and they would teach me. That's why I'm so grateful for my kids," Talbert expressed.
The woman started working as a bus driver which allowed her to go back to school and fund her bachelor's and master's degrees. "I started that journey not being able to read and write. It was very hard, but I persevered because I knew that it was important that I did that. It wasn't just for me. My story's not for me, it's for others," Talbert highlighted. "Ms. Talbert is phenomenal. If you know her story, then that in itself is amazing. When there are subs that can't show up when teachers are absent, she goes in and teaches the class," Ebony Noah pointed out. The woman often tells her story to parents and other people to ensure that they can be inspired if they are going through something similar in life as well.
"Despite where you're coming from, or your background, your history, or where you live... It's going to be alright if you persevere. If you try," the assistant principal remarked. "First, you have to put forth the steps. No one is going to give you anything." The woman went back to school with her son, so now the duo is working towards getting their PhDs together. It is Talbert's dream to open a school where people can learn to read and write.
In a clip shared by NBC News, Talbert was seen checking in on her students individually and encouraging them to repeat, "I will be successful" after her during an assembly. "She is a walking miracle and an inspiration to everybody," one of her students emphasized. The teacher who encouraged Talbert to become an educator had noticed her love for kids and wondered if she would like to work with them. The woman thought she could do this. "I knew I could do this," she went on. Now, she has the same sense of belief for her students.