Poetry in Motion
Paris Andrew loves writing poetry and even met Maya Angelou
Name: Paris AndrewPosition: Dean of students and assistant director for residential affairs, Talent Identification ProgramYears at Duke: 3 years in February 2015
What I do at Duke: I oversee all the learning that happens outside the classroom for our students in the Talent Identification Program. There’s a lot of pride fostering a fun environment where they can form bonds with each other and build interpersonal skills, cultural competency and moral and ethical values.
If I had $5 million, I would: Give to charities to promote cancer awareness and fighting the disease, then I’d want to take a vacation somewhere exotic like the south of France or West Indies. Maybe even purchase land on an island. I’d want to buy land in North Carolina, where I was born and raised.
My first ever job: A waitress at Ruby Tuesday in Raleigh when I was a junior in high school. I wrecked my first car and wanted to show I could pull my own weight and buy my own car. I spent the whole summer there to raise my own funds.
My dream job: To be a poet. I love writing inspirational poetry and performing spoken word. I used to record poetry on top of music. I even recorded a little album. I used to write a lot more in college – so much so that one of the directors of cultural affairs at East Carolina asked me to introduce Dr. Maya Angelou for our centennial celebration during my senior year.
When I went back to the green room to meet her, she pulled me aside and told me to ‘keep it short,’ so I had to revise my introduction. It was a sacred moment – one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences – and one of the hallmark experiences I’ll ever have.
If someone wanted to start a conversation with me they should ask me about: I’m a new mom, so chatting about motherhood is easy for me. I love talking about parenthood and school systems and all the funny things kids do.
The best advice I ever received: ‘Strive not to seek difficulty in every opportunity, but opportunity in every difficulty.’ It was one of the mottos I learned growing up from different after-school activities.
What I love about Duke: I think it’s really cool to brush shoulders with some of our great student-athletes. People may think of basketball first, but you could be at the bookstore and some star athlete from any of our great teams could walk by. It’s a smaller environment than you realize.
When I’m not at work, I like: Going to the gym and playing basketball. I played throughout high school and walked onto the team at East Carolina. I’m left-handed and people call me ‘Left-Handed Bandit’ because my shot throws people off. Basketball is a big passion of mine along with writing poetry.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: To be a healer. I’d want to be someone who can walk up and rid you of illnesses.
An interesting/memorable day at work: One of the first summers I was working here with hundreds of Talent Identification Program students and they sent me a video singing happy birthday to me on the stairs of the Marketplace.