FMU’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority hosted its “Too Much Sauce” event on March 21 from 6-8:30 p.m. in room 108 of the Leatherman Science Facility to celebrate women.

AKA invited Maria James, chaplain of AKA’s Omega Omega Omega chapter, to talk to the sorority about self-worth and what it takes to obtain it. James is an assistant professor and academic program coordinator for child development in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at South Carolina State University.

She shared with the audience that she became pregnant at 14 years old and had her first child when she was 15. She told the audience that it was very hard being a young mother, but she didn’t let that stop her from becoming the person God intended for her to become.

James told the young women in the audience that having faith is important to believing in yourself.

“We are in a season of open doors,” James said. “If you believe it, then you can walk through them.”

James told the audience that the key to loving and improving yourself is putting God first and learning to value your own gifts.

“All of these things are vital to being a woman of God, a woman of morals, a woman of faith, a woman of value and a woman of maturity,” James said.

James also told the audience to not be afraid of their purpose in life or when facing adversity.

James explained how she fell into a deep depression after her ex-boyfriend broke her heart. She stopped valuing herself, lost a lot of weight and didn’t want to leave the house. She told the audience the breakup helped her discover her purpose.

James told the audience that women carry a lot of weight and that most of the time a woman’s downfall is a man. She also told the audience that the right man is a man who respects your goals and knows your worth.

James also told the audience that she wasn’t perfect and she makes mistakes.

“Just because God is the head of my life doesn’t mean I am beyond making mistakes,” James said. “I had to learn how to own my stuff.”

AKA member Kristen Bolus, along with others from the audience, got the chance to speak with James personally.

“What she said just gave me that extra push to keep going,” Bolus said.