From TODAY.

Sheinelle Jones remembers her grandmama, Josephine Brown, as a "very tough cookie" who was a very influential part of her life. Sheinelle shared on the Open Book with Jenna podcast that as a child, she proudly told her grandmother she was dropping out of an honors class. "I remember bragging about moving to the easy class, because the honors class was overcrowded … (she was) storming into the (school) office, and she’s like, ‘Where’s Brenda?!’ I’m like, ‘Who’s Brenda?’ I didn’t even know my principal’s name."

Sheinelle’s grandmother, who was the first woman of color on her school board, made sure Sheinelle got back into the honors class. "Next thing you know, I’m learning about Shakespeare the next day." Sheinelle also said on the podcast episode that she is grateful to her grandmama for being present not just for the big moments, but for the little moments like that one that helped put her where she is today.

You can stream the full episode of Open Book with Jenna featuring guest Sheinelle Jones wherever you get your podcasts.

📸 : Sheinelle Jones