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SHE STANDS UP FOR HER BELIEFS
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STUDENT STATS: |
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Student: |
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Fightress M. Stallworth, Class of 2009 |
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Hometown: |
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Camden, Alabama |
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Major: |
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English |
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Minor: |
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Psychology |
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Who is she? |
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SGA President, Miss Judson 2008 and future law student |
She has always been a fighter. Weighing only three pounds at birth, her mother promptly decided to name the infant "Fightress" because of her determination. Growing up the daughter of a truck driver with one brother and sister, as well as an adopted cousin, Fightress became accustomed to hard times and money was always scarce. Seeing people who wanted the opportunity for a better life but who couldn't overcome their hardships became a familiar scenario to her. And she was determined she would rise above her circumstances.
Today, Fightress is a first generation college student and a junior at Judson College. The 19-year-old will be the first to tell you, standing up for what she believes in has gotten her a long way in life already.
"My mother is a very outspoken person and she has always said to me, "If it's right, don't bite your tongue - stand up for it,"" Fightress said. "She's made me a stronger person. My dad is kind of an introvert, though, and I've learned from him how to be quiet when I need to be, to listen and stay focused."
Growing up, her family could only get local channels on their TV, so Fightress constantly watched "People's Court" and "Judge Judy." The hit TV law show "Ally McBeal" made her laugh and all of these increased her desire to one day be a lawyer.
Fightress is a firm believer in freedom of speech and has learned how to embrace her independence while at Judson - a place she chose to attend because of the small class size and for the fact that it's an all-girls college.
"Men are a distraction," Fightress said. "You know, in high school classes with guys, it can be intimidating. You're worried about what you look like or if what you say out loud sounds silly. You don't have that at Judson. I've really gained confidence here."
Fightress is president of the SGA, a resident assistant (RA), a board member for the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform and president of Judson's ACCR chapter, and works part-time as a legal secretary in a Marion law office. Additionally, she is the reigning Miss Judson, winning the crown in January.
"I was shocked that I won," Fightress said. "I really just competed in the pageant for fun and I was completely out of my element. When you think of pageants, you think of beautiful blondes with blue eyes and that's not me. I'm not normally one that likes titles and labels."
Fightress competed against eight other Judson students for the crown and recited Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman" for her talent contribution.
Since being elected SGA President last year, Fightress has worked hard to make more activities available to students. Among those activities have been sock hops, ice skating trips, poetry and movie nights, and a contest called "Judson's Next Top Model."
"I think it's important to be a leader because you can help make changes," Fightress said. "I'm the kind of person that just wants to help save the world. I have a get-it-done type of attitude and I love bringing students together in SGA, watching them work together despite their differences."
In early March, Fightress, along with two other students, was chosen to represent Judson College in New York City at the 52nd "United Nations Commission on the Status of Women." The week-long event was dedicated to promoting global gender equality and the advancement of women. Choosing from several events daily, Fightress was able to listen in on sessions concerning women and poverty, abuse, prostitution, etc. The experience made Fightress realize how trivial many of her daily problems are compared to the plight of other women.
Upon returning to campus, she decided to pursue her master's in Women's Studies after graduating Judson and before continuing on to law school.
Fightress hopes to one day become a prosecutor, then a divorce attorney, and finally a judge, which she said with much laughter, means she will "first put bad people away, then get money for cheating spouses, and last sit on a bench."
"There's this little garden angel a teacher gave me once... It says on it something like, "Don't let where you come from influence where you go." Some people think they can't do some things, but they can. You just have to fight for what you believe in."
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