Creating Self

I'm at the point in life when it's time to reflect on who and what has contributed to the person I am today.  I grew up in a house with 12 children!  It was noisey and busy, crazy at times, tense at times and totally normal to me.  As I grew older, I became aware that there were definitely different values placed on the girls in my family and that we were valued less by my father and more by my mother.  This realization came through some very turbulent times and, unconsciously, decisions about how I would respond to this reality were made.

I now know that I resented being made to feel "less" than my brothers.  I didn't like the feeling of being less intelligent, less capable, less likely to make a life for myself-etc.  I reacted with outward agression, especially toward men.  It took a while for me to discover the difference between agression and assertion, sometimes the lessons were painful, always they were enlightening!  I came to realize that, just as the attitudes of some men were like my father's, so were some women's, and there were just as many men and women who felt like I did, we all have value, we all have talent and we all have something to contribute to the world!

I decided that, rather than be impacted in a negative way that would, eventually, harm me; I would use what I learned to grow as a stronger person.  I was married to a wonderfully supportive husband and he encouraged me to go back to school (I hated schoolgr owing up)!  I earned an Associate's Degree, and worked as an educational technician in an elementary school, as I was raising three children.  I went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree and teach K-8,eventually, I earned a Master's in Educational Leadership and had many opportunities to mentor others in their own educational development.  Through all of this, my "real" life continued on through joys and tragedies and struggles.  It was my husband and several very strong, encouraging women who continued to push and support my efforts.  I knew it was important to set a good example for my daughter and my sons and for the children I taught.

The reality is that all of us have had experiences, and will continue to experience things in our lives that can either stifle our growth and stop us in our tracks or, will make us stronger.  I chose to use all experiences as opportunities for growth.  I had a super support network and very strong role models who were willing to encourage and mentor me as I set goals and worked toward creating the life I wanted.  Now that I'm here, I want to be that mentor, that supporter for other women and young girls who are unsure of themselves.  I believe that the Good Lord, has blessed me in a way that has allowed me to become one of those strong, encouraging women who can help others achieve what they want in life...and I can't wait to get started!