PERSISTENCE:THE ERMA BOMBECK STORY:FROM NEWSPAPER COPY GIRL TO TIME MAGAZINE COVER GIRL

Have you ever been discouraged by friends,authority figure(s),parent(s) or anybody from following your dreams? Do not give up on them. Someoneelse was discouraged too yet she held on to her dreams and found fulfillment. Though some of us might not have heard about her,(I got to hear about her only three years ago) I bring to you the Erma Bombeck story.It is pregnant with lessons

Erma Bombeck traveled a road that was filled with the potholes of adversity,starting with her career.She was drawn to journalism early in life.Her first job was as a copy girl at the Dayton Journal-Herald when she was a teenager.Despite her love for journalism,when she went off to school at Ohio University a guidance counsellor advised her,"Forget about writing." She refused.Later she transferred to the University of Dayton and graduated in 1949with a degree in English.Soon afterward she began working as a writer for the obituary column and the women's page.

In that same year(1949) adversity hit her in her personal life.When she got married,one of her deepest desires was to become a mother but much to her dismay,her ill-informed doctors told her she was incapable of having children. Did she give up and consider herself a failure? No! She and her husband explored adoption,and then they adopted a daughter.Two years later,a surprised Erma became pregnant! But then even that brought her more difficulties. In four years,she experienced four pregnancies but only two of the babies survived.

In 1964,Erma was able to convince the editor of a small neighbourhood newspaper, the Kettering-Oakwood Times, to let her write a weekly humour column.Despite the pitiful $3 per article she was paid,she kept writing. That opened a door for her! The following year,she was offered the opportunity to write a three-times-a-week column for her old employer,the Dayton Journal-Herald.In a matter of months her persistence paid off and by 1967,her column was syndicated and carried by more than nine hundred newspapers!

For more than thirty years Erma wrote her humour column. She became a household name. During that time,she published fifteen books,was recognized as one of the most influential women in America,appeared on the television show 'Good Morning America', was featured on the cover of Time Magazine,received innumerable honours( such as the American Cancer Society's Medal of Honour),and was awarded fifteen honorary degree!

Erma Bombeck refused to give up. She learned the difference between failure and failing.She refused to dwell on the past hurts,mistakes and challenges in her life. She always chose to concentrate and focus her goals and compelling future and so can you! Ladies and gentlemen....ERMA BOMBECK!

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