Martha O'Bryan Center

At the 2012 Senior Banquet for Stratford High School in East Nashville, Elisha Brown got up to perform the song "Hero," by Mariah Carey. Elisha has overcome many obstacles to success in high school, and this year she had a baby and she stopped coming to school. Stratford Assistant Principal Gayle Merkerson went to Elisha's home and encouraged her to stay in school. Yolanda Roake, another senior and a member of the Top Floor, would go to Merkerson's office to offer Brown support as well. 

 

Brown stayed in school, and even though she won't graduate until this summer, she came to be part of the Class of 2012 banquet. During the song, she became overcome with emotion during the song and couldn't go on. That's when her friends surrounded her and held her and cheered her on. 

 

This is the chorus to the song:

 

"And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside

And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone

Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you"

 

Martha O'Bryan Center salutes Elisha, Yolanda, Assistant Principal Merkerson and the seniors from our Top Floor @ Stratford High School program for believing in themselves and each other. Congratulations Class of 2012!