"I am a mother, daughter, sister, cousin, niece, aunt, and friend—each role shaping who I am and how I connect with the world. I find joy in cooking, bringing ideas to life through creativity, and embracing the art of planning and problem-solving. As a lifelong learner, my passion lies in forging meaningful connections and sharing knowledge, experiences, and inspiration with others."

MY LIFE

Interview with Elisabeth Roberts

Q: For those who don’t know you, where did you grow up and how did it shape your values?

I grew up in a small East Texas town in the nineteen sixties, where I learned to cherish the value of being surrounded by a community of support in my daily life. Upon leaving East Texas, I created the same sense of community and values within the larger cities where I have lived by connecting with others in every city, including Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. By connecting with others I am always in the company of friends and family wherever I go.

Q: How did you happen to live in all of those cities?

Growing up in a small town, the television was our window to the outside world. Every Sunday evening, our family would watch two shows: 60 Minutes and The Ed Sullivan Show. I wanted to be an entertainer and a flight attendant.

Q: What came first, entertainer or flight attendant?

I was hired by American Airlines when I was 19 years old as a Reservationist my dream was to fly! Being a Reservationist introduced the Art of Sells, an essential when applied to life skills.

Q: How did you become a flight attendant?

I interviewed within the company but wasn’t hired then an opportunity came to work with a different airline.

Q: How long did you work with the other airline?

I was there for about 18 months. It was great, I traveled to London, Frankfort, Maui, and all of the different cities in the United States. I was so young that I had to adjust to this whole new big world of going from a “country girl to a global traveler.” I quickly realized that being a flight attendant early on was just part of my journey. I learned American was hiring flight attendants 10 years ago, I quickly jumped on the opportunity! I appreciated the value of the opportunity for my kids to travel the world to places that I knew we as a family would not have the budget to do so. I encourage everyone and almost anyone to consider the airline industry, as a microcosm of a macrocosm (a little world of the larger world) which includes people from all walks of life.

Q: What gave you the confidence to become a model?

When I decided to be a model, I stood at 5’6”, with a full face of acne, but my family made us believe that we could do or be anyone. I never considered that I would need to be four inches taller and need a clear complexion to be a model. At the end of my senior year of high school, as faith showed up, my face miraculously cleared, and my height was not a factor. I enjoyed thirty years of a career in entertainment and travel, living by faith, and learning that it is not the destination but the journey bringing value to my life.

Q: Why did you move to New York City?

A: I was blessed to have a successful career in Dallas with the Kim Dawson Agency but when I decided to study acting, I moved to New York City. The city was very different in the 1980s, the streets were not safe making me aware of my surroundings, and yet there was much excitement in the air. This made me grow in ways that I wouldn’t have experienced if I had remained in Dallas.

Q: What was the most important lesson you learned there?

I learned to survive.

Q: What do you mean by you learn to survive?

I had read the book, The Game of Life by Florence Scovel Shinn a few years before I decided to move to New York, in the book she talks about, "Digging your Ditches" which today I  translate to “living by Faith by taking action” one of  Unity's fifth principles, to act as though it is happening.

Q: What type of work did you do to support yourself?

I worked as a babysitter, a waitress, and four days a week, I worked on the production team of The Cosby Show for three years. That experience taught me how to work professionally later in my career as a fashion producer and stylist.  Oh yeah, I was a full-time student too!

Q: Did you work as a model in New York?

No, New York City is more high fashion for my look, where my category was all American and nothing exotic, but it allowed me to hone in on my craft of acting. Two years later, I moved to Los Angeles. All of the hard work paid off, and I worked as a commercial actress for ten years until I had children.

Q: How did your life change?

It was like starting all over again with my young family. We left Los Angeles due to the first actor's strike in 1998, and we moved back to Texas as a family. Shortly after that, I became a single parent and head of the household. I had two young kids, five and two years old.  I relate it to being in the desert in search of the Promised Land.  We had to travel on a whole bunch of big dreams and faith.

Q: What was the most important lesson you learned at that time?

I learned to discipline my thoughts and not give up, "If you want to change your situation, you have to change your thoughts about it."

Q: What would you want to share with someone who is traveling with the same challenges that you had as a single mom?

I would say to them to believe in the power that you are created out of, and with that power, your thoughts and words matter.

Q: Why does it matter?

It matters because life happens when we are working. We have parents that we care for, children who have important moments that happen while we are serving others, and many times we can easily miss “something” and need an advocate. I want to be that person, for me, that is why it matters. I want to make a difference because I have the time and the training to do it, and because I care.

Q: Anything else?

Nope, I’m good! Thanks, Elisabeth!

ER: Thank you, and good luck!