As a product of Georgia's public educational system, and like many low income students, she found herself in a 5th grade classroom in a "round robin" reading group several grade levels below her peers. In the early eighties, her home and community life were interrupted and corrupted by dysfunction, drug use and violence. It wasn't until she was challenged by her teacher Ms. Clark, a tall brown-skinned African female, to believe that education could be a viable option for creating a life change. It was then that Crystal began to demonstrate the EXCELLENCE that Ms. Clark had already seen.