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PEOPLE OF PLANT CITY
SHIRLEY GOODWINE OSCAR JOEL HERRERA BY CHERYL JOHNSTON
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hen Shirley Goodwine asked Vivian Ruis of Fred’s Market Restaurant if the rutabagas were available on the breakfast buffet, she heard, “Not until lunch.” Being resilient, she sampled something new instead: Cheese grits topped with sausage gravy. Oh, yeah! These are a must try. While savoring her morning meal in a corner booth near a John Briggs painting of the Johnson family, Goodwine recalled, “He was my art teacher.” The Plant City High School graduate also shared a life-changing lesson she learned from a horrific experience... and an “ah-hah moment” that’s become her focus. The 48-year-old community activist suffered a sexual assault at age thirteen which resulted in 30-plus years of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Did you seek help? Yes. In 2010 my therapist said, “Shirley, you can’t not be raped. It has happened and you cannot undo that fact. You can only move forward.” How did you begin to do that? I enrolled at Valencia College and should complete my Political Science degree in 2015. My goal is to become a lobbyist and to continue mentoring children. Right now I help 12 students with homework three days a week and teach them life skills as well. We also make educational field trips together.” She continued, “Education is the key.
44 NOVEMBER 2014 focusplantcity.com
BY JUPITER JONES
The more we can stimulate curiosity and the desire to learn, the better. Fortunately, society attempts to protect children more now and holds parents accountable for their welfare. I just enjoy helping people any way I can. I’m not my own…I’m the people’s Shirley.” Would the Passion for Purple Walk you’ve organized be an example of your community activism? I hope to raise awareness of domestic violence and that message should be taught early. The 2013 and 2014 events were to benefit the family of Tiffany Lamar, a young mother murdered in September of 2013 by her boyfriend. Thanks to the Plant City Police Department, approximately 200 people of all ages made the 3K distance on October 25. What are the most important things we can teach our children? “In addition to the value of education, teach them to honor one another, to respect life, to be resilient and persistent, and to trust God. Teach them to hold onto their dreams; to never let anyone deter them from what each knows they’re called to be.” Did you learn that by example or experience? “Both, but my grandma, Ola Lee Blue, encouraged me to see the good in everything and give people the benefit of the doubt, even when they do you wrong.” (Note: As this conversation drew to a close, Ruis surprised a very grateful Shirley with a bowl of fresh-cooked rutabagas.) Any final remarks? “Oh, my! These taste just like my grandmother’s…delicious!”
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scar Joel Herrera is an amazing young man that loves life, hardworking people and is a great photographer. He hopes to go to USF to follow his dream in photography. Oscar loves his friends and family and refuses to “grow up”. This is Oscar Joel. He is People of Plant City. Why Plant City? “Well, we have been here for about three generations. My mom and dad have traveled for our congregation to many different places, but we always come back to Plant City.” What makes you stand out? “The way that I am with other people and my awareness. I am not into myself. I’m an empathetic person. My dad says I have so many feelings.” What is the dumbest thing you have ever done? “I’m not into pools or the beach, but I used to swim in school. Recently a friend of mine asked me to go with her to the Jacuzzi and I was very hesitant to join her, but I did, and not realizing where the steps were I slipped and fell in fully clothed!!” Any hidden talents that you have? “I have a talent on finding good music and my friends are always ask me about music. I also like to take clippings from a magazine and make them into a sketchbook.” What is your favorite song or music? “Lana Del Rey, she’s produced a new album by the Black Keys called Ultra Violet. I admire the way she has worked on her music and even though critics called her fake, she proved them wrong. I feel the same way with my photography, my art. I use music to inspire me.”
Best moment of your life? “When my nephew was born-seeing birth. Knowing that it is something I will never get to do. To see a life grow in front of you..its amazing!” Worst moment of your life? “Coming out to my parents. I wasn’t sure if they were ready for it. Parents have an idea how their child is going to be so they weren’t expecting this at all. But little by little they have understood that this is part of who I am. I came out to my friends first and they were there for me, but now we have all gone our separate ways. I now have new friends that understand me as well.” When do you consider yourself an adult? “Never! I am not an adult, nor do I want to be. There is so much responsibility, too much of don’t do this, do this, don’t do that, or your too old for that. This is why I am wearing a Disney shirt. I call it the Peter Pan syndrome.” If you had to give a child one piece of advice, what would it be? “Don’t forget about love. Not just romantic love, but platonic love. Friends are important just as partners. Love makes lots of good things happen in life.” How come things that make you happy don’t make everyone else happy? “Everyone has things that are important to them so what might be important to me might not be important to somebody else. Not everyone is going to like Lady Gaga, not everyone is going to like Andy Warhol, or hanging out until the morning with a bonfire. Everyone has different paths and we have to be happy with that.” Who do you admire the most? “I don’t admire just one person. What I admire is hardworking people. I gravitate towards that. Like my mom and dad who have worked hard all their lives and I love that. I try to learn from that. People that are picking strawberries… hard-workers that have earned their checks and are providing for their family. I admire that.”