THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 6, 1995 TAG: 9504040131
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIMBERLY WOODS, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
A gold uniform used to hang in Regina Shelton's office to remind her how far she has come.
Twenty-two years ago, she started her first job as a Norfolk State University custodian.
Today, Shelton, 43, helps run the office of operations and physical plant at Norfolk State - an accomplishment Shelton said she worked hard to achieve. She also is working on a bachelor's degree in early childhood education.
Shelton, who grew up in the Brambleton area, graduated from high school, got married and had three children. When she divorced, she needed a job.
In 1973, Shelton began working as a custodian, making $1.90 an hour, in G.W.C. Brown Memorial Hall, which served as the administration building. She cleaned floors and bathrooms.
Relatives had similar jobs, she said, so she didn't mind the work. In fact, she grew to like it because her co-workers became like a family to her.
After six years on the job, she was promoted to timekeeper for custodians. She was responsible for the time cards for 83 people and handled incoming telephone calls. Periodically, she had to take part-time jobs to supplement her income, which meant less time with her children.
``I had to do whatever it took to take care of my kids,'' she said.
In 1983, she was promoted to her current job as program support technician. She makes $20,000 a year. Her duties include supervising and assigning work to the clerical staff and handling maintenance calls.
Shelton has the vitality of a teenager and almost always sports a smile. She also cares. On a recent day, she offered a can of soup she was going to have for lunch to a sick co-worker.
``She worked to better herself,'' said a co-worker, Cynthia Speller. ``She strives to do better with little help.''
Although her current job was a step up, the youthful-looking Shelton began thinking of other options to make more money and have more time with her family. She considered taking classes at Norfolk State but was apprehensive at first.
``I used to think only special students belong in college - those who made A's and B's,'' Shelton said.
But working on a college campus made her realize that some students were no older or different from herself.
Shelton enrolled in 1990. The first day of class, she was so nervous that a former co-worker had to lead her by the hand to each class.
With the encouragement of her family and teachers, Shelton soon started enjoying classes. Although her children were supportive, they often joked about her age, saying she was probably the oldest student in the class, Shelton said.
Rosalie Kiah, an English professor, said she has been impressed with Shelton. She ``always came to class prepared and never complained about the volume of work,'' Kiah said.
Shelton will graduate in December after completing her student teaching.
She had hoped her graduation would coincide with that of her daughter, Adrian, 25, who graduated from Alabama A&M University last May. Adrian is now getting a master's degree in education at Norfolk State. Shelton's son Toen, 21, is in the Army in Georgia, and Kevin, 20, is getting his GED in Norfolk. Shelton is also raising her 5-year-old great-niece, Ranesha.
Shelton said she wants to teach because she loves children and cannot imagine life without them.
Shelton, who now lives in Chesapeake, hopes to work at Bowling Park Elementary School in Norfolk because she has heard that the principal works hard to help low-income students.
``If I can motivate and encourage disadvantaged people, I want that to be my contribution there,'' Shelton said.
Shelton eventually wants to open her own school and already has a name for it - the ``Irene C. Williams'' school, where ``every child is a star.''
She chose the name because it combines the names of her mother, grandmother and brother, all of whom have died.
``They were my moral inspiration,'' Shelton said.
Shelton, who is buying a house in Chesapeake, said her advice for young people is simple: ``Don't be afraid to take a chance.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Former custodian Regina Shelton now helps run the office of
operations and physical plant at Norfolk State.
by CNB