Southern Roots Born to Phyllis Maria and Peter Charles Harris on March 7 in Moultrie, Georgia, I came into this world with my eyes wide open ready to live every day to the fullest. Throughout my childhood, my mother exposed me to an array of cultural opportunities that made me see the world beyond the confines of my small Southern town. In my family, every adult member had something to contribute to my upbringing. My maternal grandmother taught me the joy of reading and researching to find out anything I wanted to know. My paternal uncles showed me how to laugh at life. And my father and my mother’s oldest brother instilled in me a constant curiosity for all things and the ability to challenge what I did not understand. Practice Makes Perfect Now, as a recent magna cum laude graduate of The University of Georgia, I am taking everything I learned from my loving family, supportive community members and wise instructors and synthesizing it into a career path that makes sense for me. Currently, I work as an advertising sales coordinator at TV Guide Network  - a Lionsgate Entertainment company - in New York, New York. I am also a member of the professional organization Advertising Women of New York.   Determination So far, I have determined that the only thing I must do—whatever career path I may choose—is continue to put into practice those skills that I acquired in my childhood. I must have a constant curiosity for all things; I must research to find out what I want to know; and I must challenge things I do not understand so that I can make the most of my human existence. Vision From my point of view, serving at the top of a socially responsible media/communications company would fulfill these specifications perfectly. I have drive; I like to be “in the know”; I want to win; I love people; I love communities; and I love to talk :o )                  I can see my end goal before me, now all I have to do is determine how to reach it, while living every day to the fullest. Love and Success, ~DeShaun Maria*