When I joined my sorority about two years ago, I knew that my life would never be the same because everywhere I went, there would always be someone I could refer to as a sister. When I graduated in May, I transferred into the local graduate chapter (Kappa Eta Omega) of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and attended my first graduate chapter business meeting in September. Because the graduate chapter works very closely with the undergraduate chapter at Valdosta State University, I recognized several faces. However, the many new connections I made were positive and memorable. When I first met Enya Solomon, I could immediately sense inner strength and depth. Her sensible nature and ladylike demeanor, along with our constructive conversation, made me want to know more about her. I looked up Enya’s number last week to see if she would be interested in being the spotlight for my second At Random. Enya, an avid reader of the weekly At Random features, quickly accepted the offer. I invited her over to my house this weekend, where we discussed education, life and, like most women, men. This story is a passage into the thoughts and heart of a young woman inspired by positivity — a woman I am proud to call my sister.



Enya Rasheed Solomon can make a poem on just about any topic one brings up. From matters that involve children to social issues, her ability to freestyle words into rhythmic patterns is nothing short of amazing. While enjoying some lemonade on my back porch, she did not hesitate to rapidly share one of her untitled pieces, which deals with competition and how it consumes society. Shortly after, she went on to recite some sorority chants she made up during her undergraduate years.

It was not surprising to learn that this lyrical mastermind currently teaches ninth grade English and literature.

Enya, 26, has spent most of her life in Valdosta. However, during childhood, she did live in Richmond, California for one year before moving to Atlanta for six years with her mother, Ethlyn Renee. Upon returning to Valdosta, she entered Lowndes County schools and graduated from Lowndes High School in 1999.

After a year of classes at Valdosta Technical College, Enya received her patient care technician certification in 2000. However, she did not feel that her career journey ended here. After working a few years, Enya, enrolled in Valdosta State University. During her tenure, she worked full-time in various customer service positions at Convergys, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel and South Georgia Medical Center. Following graduation from VSU, where she received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an English concentration and a minor in psychology, Enya returned to her alma mater, Lowndes High School, where she currently works.

To Enya, education isn’t something that people simply gain to obtain a good job. She feels, rather, that education helps people become better in all aspects of life. She recalled the impact that several teachers, who taught facts beyond what was included in text books (she called them “facts of life”), had on her while she was growing up. The academia Enya received in the classroom motivated her to learn more outside of the classroom, all for the sake of enhancing her understanding of things around her.

“As a secondary education teacher, I want to make sure teens know how important it is to crave knowledge,” Enya said. “Although I am just starting out, I can’t wait for the day that a student of mine comes back to me and says ‘Ms. Solomon, you made a difference in my life and encouraged me to do more than what you required of me.’”

Enya feels rather accomplished at the moment, but this full-time educator has affirmed that her own educational voyage is still not quite complete. Within the next five years, she aspires to receive a master’s degree in English or school counseling. She expressed a desire to always stay in the education field because it is simply what she was put here to do.

Although teaching is her passion in life, a family-oriented Enya finds her primary purpose for living in her two daughters, Amira, 10, and Anesha, 7. The two bundles of energy, who mirror their mother in appearance, both attend Lowndes County schools, one in the fourth grade and the other in second grade.

While Anesha is following in her mother’s lyrical footsteps — being able to sing almost every hit pop song out word for word — Amira expresses herself through dance, which is by far her favorite pastime.

“I love hanging out with my kids,” Enya said while giggling and enjoying her happy children’s performance as they put on a show in the living room, complete with choreographed moves and upbeat singing. “They keep me grounded and enthusiastic about life.”

Setting a good example for her children is one of Enya’s top priorities as a mother. She recognizes this as one of the reasons she associated herself with two well-known and prestigious historically black organizations. Both service organizations, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), have been in existence for about 100 years. The scholarship, community service and networking embedded in both affiliations greatly influenced her decision to fulfill duties as a lifelong member.

“The NAACP is not only about the uplifting of minorities, but the uplifting and uniting of people in general,” Enya said.

When asked about sorority life, she added, “Growing up I always admired the strength and swagger of an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman and I knew that was the way for me. I see that same admiration in my children and I work for both of my organizations so that they can develop the passion to work for whatever organizations they become a part of in the future.”

When she’s not teaching, writing poetry, spending time with her children or doing civic activities, Enya can be found at the movies, cruising the highways during her frequent weekend road trips, and of course, reading whatever she can get her hands on. She has expressed that her greatest accomplishment yet was completing college on time as a single mother of two who worked full-time and attended school full-time.

Enya does not deny that her life has entailed several struggles and hardships along the way; however, this happy and soulful young woman has never focused on the bad and uses everyday as an opportunity to advance and become wiser.

“I’d like to say that I see the positive in every situation and I use negativity as motivation to succeed.”