[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 41 (Monday, March 2, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING DELEQUA DRAKE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 2, 2020

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi.  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable community servant Ms. Delequa Drake.
  Ms. Delequa Drake was born in Natchez, MS on December 12, 1986. She 
graduated with honors from Natchez High School in 2005. From there, she 
received an Associate of Arts degree from Copiah-Lincoln Community 
College in 2007. After receiving her Associate's degree, she 
transferred to Mississippi State University to pursue a degree in 
education. Upon arrival, she discovered a field (kinesiology) that 
piqued her interest as well as fed her burning desire to learn anything 
about everything. Two years later, she earned a Bachelor of Science 
degree in Education with a concentration in Clinical Exercise 
Physiology. It was after this feat that this young adult experienced 
one of life's many curveballs.
  While prepping and planning to attend graduate school at the 
University of Tennessee Chattanooga, this 22-year-old, Delequa Drake, 
received a call that would change her life forever. Her favorite person 
in the world, her grandmother, had just been notified that the lump in 
her breast was malignant. Ms. Drake decided to put her plans on hold 
and stay home to be closer to her family. She began working odd jobs 
that had no connection to her degree to make ends meet. In her 
downtime, she also volunteered to coach pee-wee basketball in the local 
recreational league. It was then that she first discovered her love for 
working with children. The philosophy for her players was ``Grades 
before Plays'' which worked out fine for everyone except a struggling 
young reader on the team. Ms. Drake took it upon herself to tutor this 
struggling reader while coaching him.
  Much to his surprise and hers, the tutorials worked better than 
expected. The student's grade began to increase mightily. His reading 
grade improved from a letter grade of D to a letter grade of B by the 
end of the semester. Still, Ms. Drake had no clue that teaching was 
where she belonged. It wasn't until a few more success stories later 
that she even considered reverting to her original plan of teaching. 
After a lot of urging from family and friends, she was now 27 years old 
and finally decided to pursue her passion by taking the necessary steps 
toward becoming a teacher. She enrolled in Belhaven University's Master 
of Arts in Teaching program in the Fall of 2016 and never looked back.
  Ms. Drake became the 2019-2020 Teacher of The Year from Gilmer 
McLaurin Elementary School. Congratulations to Ms. Delequa Drake for 
her accomplishments. She still lives by the philosophy of ``Grades 
before Plays'' and tries to instill in every child that she crosses 
paths with the importance of learning and her love for reading.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. 
Delequa Drake for her dedication and tenacity to serving the community 
and the desire to be an example for all.

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