We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shanna McCoy-Rollins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shanna below.

Shanna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

The very first time I knew that,I wanted to pursue my creative and artistic path professionally was,at the age of 18 years old. During my 12th grade year in high school,I was in the marching band,and our band was chosen by a former graduate of the high school I attended. That student ended up becoming a movie director,for the the movie called,”End Of The Line.” Starring North Little Rock,Arkansas actress,Mary Steenburgen. After speaking with Ms. Steenburgen on set,I had always dreamed of pursuing my dream as an actress/future author at the time. I can remember as early age 3 years old. As time progressed in life,I always kept a journal of long term and short term goals. Age age 3,my goal was to see Mr. James Brown in person some day,my second goal was to perform at the world renowned Carnegie Hall by age 25,my dream came true at age 20. My 3rd dream was to see Janet Jackson perform in person,That was my bucket list dream,that became a reality. Having been born with cerebral palsy,survived a heart attack while in college at age 23,I became a published author at age 50,after having been diagnosed with stage 3A-2 ovarian cancer,and now dealing with recurrent ovarian cancer again,my philosophy in life is,”In Life Is,If You Fall 8 times,Get Back Up The 9 Time.” That is what I call a crooked path,to an amazing journey. In my 53- years on this journey called life,I have been amazingly blessed to have survived 38 surgeries,and God has blessed me to live and pursue all of my dreams.

Shanna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started in the marching band at Ridge Road Jr. High School, 8th and 9th grade,I began singing in the concert choir in the Popular High School 7th grade,by 11 grade I rejoined the Ole Main High School marching band,and I joined the concert band during my 12 grade year. During my college years,I joined the University Of Arkansas At Little Rock concert choir,in which we were selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in 1989. Organizations: High School Drama Club 1986-87 Speech Club 1987,Solo Ensemble Second Division. Arkansas Disability Coalition Member Chancellor List- 1995,Deans List 1995-96 UALR Donaghey Scholars Internship Program 1996 Internship,worked with the Delaware Tribe,Choctaw Tribe. Public Office held: Arkansas Governor’s Developmental Disability Planning Council 2 term member 94-97. Appointed to the Tenth District Of Public Safety Commission of the tenth district of Los Angeles,California February 2005: National Council Negro Women’s League 95-2004 Little Rock,Arkansas Chapter and Los Angeles Chapters. NAACP age 16 youth division: NACOA (Native American Coalition Of Arkansas) BIO (Founder) of Black Indian Organization honorary member of Kiowa Tribe/Choctaw Nation. Co-Founder of Barrier’s Awareness For People With Disabilities University Of Arkansas Of Little Rock. Former member of Eastern Stars Rosetta Silver Star Lodge 281 Continental Honored Member of Who’s Who Of Business Women. Edward Coleman Leadership Institution Class of 2016

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My story of resilience began during my childhood. Having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth,due to suffering a stroke in utero,Doctors told my my mother that,I would never be able to read,or write. However with my mother’s method,wear 20 pound leg braces by day,and a 40 pound leg brace at night. Being the resilient 2 -year old toddler,I had my own plan, I would wait until I thought my parents were asleep,and I would take my night brace off,and put it in the closet,and then get back in bed but,by morning I was awaken by what I called a “Monster,” on my leg. I would scream,kick and cry,all day long.Mother explained to me,or should I say to me,”The World Is Not Going To Feel Sorry For You,Just Because You Are Disabled.” This back and fourth battle with surgeries,leg braces,and me daydreaming that I was going to be someone big,someday. My father’s words were,” Never Let Your Audience See You Suffer,” has always stayed with me. Both my parents are no longer here but,their words have always stayed with me. On this journey I have been blessed to have been in 5 movies,several movies and magazine featured,and including 2 medical articles have been written about me. My nickname that people call me is,”Mrs. Rosa Parks,”because even those I’m battling ovarian cancer for the second time,I am constant moving and doing something productive. The word,”Sit Down” is foreign to me. Even the city bus drivers tease me,because even after going through 6 hours of chemotherapy,instead of going home to rest,I would be extremely weak but,some how I would gather enough energy to go shopping at Walmart. That’s how the name,Mrs. Rosa Parks began. Two weeks I passed out while waiting for my bus. As I got on the bus,the passengers who Knew me,started teasing and joking, by saying the last Rosa Parks refused to get up,but you “Rosa,” refuse to sit down. My most recent battle was on the 10th,of this month I had three rounds of radiation,while lying on the table I was telling jokes,while under the influence of medication called (ver-sed). I asked the question pertaining to the pathology report,the doctors and the nurse asked me,if I worked in the medical field in the past,I stated that I was a professional patient,everyone just start laughing. I believe laughter is the best form of medicine. I always leave a room filled with laughter. Once again,”If You Fall Down 8 Times,Get Back Up,The 9th Time ” The True Mark Of A Champion Is Not How Many Times You Fall But,How Many Times You Get Up.”

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Having to constantly go in and out of hospitals,and letting opportunities pass me by. I always felt that my body was betraying me. I would always ask my parents how,come I had to be born in this body. Their response was,”God Chose You.” My response was,” He Should Have Chosen Someone Else.” It seemed to me that,my work was not consistant.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Shannamccoy51
• Facebook: Shanna McCoy Rollins
• Youtube: How to trace you ancestors Shanna McCoy

Image Credits
Good Morning America featured with Civil Rights Pioneer Mrs. Annie Abrams