The idea of a little purse has been a part of me since I was about two years old. My mother believed in keeping me well dressed. Every season she would buy me a complete new outfit with a matching purse and Mary Jane shoes with short white socks. My purse was always size appropriate – small. I remember Easter photos in which I always carried a tiny purse with a matching straw hat.

I kept those memories and really didn’t remember them until much later. My husband died two years ago. That was a very hard time for me. I slowly realized that I’d been the one who always took care of things for the family and somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten the little girl in me. I spent 58 years doing what I was supposed to do without thinking about who I really am. I needed to reinvent myself.

Recently I felt a real need to reconnect with my little girl and to honor my new persona.

The new me decided I needed new purses so I went shopping. I am very intuitive and I do things that feel right for me. I found little purses. They called to me, offering me the chance to piece together my little girl and to allow her to be a part of Sylvia.

Once I purchased several little bags, I knew they were going to be used for a long time. I love them because they are practical. They are very sturdy and they have boundaries and a structure. They work with multiple outfits, day, evening or sportswear. These little purses complete my image of who I am.

I am a really visual person and I like to see the contents of my bag. These handbags give me a certain amount of reassurance. I can see immediately if something is missing. I don’t want a lot of little hidden compartments. I want to see and enjoy all the contents. I work out of my bag. It’s my tool kit. I use clothespins and clips. They are sturdy and I can see what I’ve clustered together. I am very practical and keep things simple.

My purse is the one thing I can organize on a daily basis as much as I want. For me it’s a toy to play with. I can take 15 minutes of down time to rearrange everything and distance myself from things for a bit. I can play with my purse.

All my life I’ve been a teacher. Sometimes I feel like a symphony conductor. I have to be ready to perform at any moment, ready for the teachable moments.

The guts of my life are in my purse. My bag sleeps by my bedside 24/7. It’s going with me.

My bag is simply my life, the little girl in me - Sylvia.

Biography

In March 2003, Sylvia Ramos, Ed.D. became President of Richard J. Daley College, the first Latina president of one of the City Colleges of Chicago. She moved to Chicago after serving as the founding president of Houston Community College Southeast, a position she held since 1991. "My niche is in any urban city in America, south of a city's major freeway. That's where I do my best work - providing educational opportunities for under represented groups."