Julianna Albowicz

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What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

My husband, Bill, passed very suddenly in 2002. He was also my business partner and my political colleague. I ended up selling the business and resigning from office of Vice Mayor as I had to move. Not knowing what would be next, I heard of a job advertised for a Outreach Person in Western Maryland to represent a dynamic legislator. I interviewed and was lucky enough to be hired by U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski for whom I represented for 13 1/2 years until she retired. I also represented U.S. Senator Chris Vanhollen for 2 1/2 years.

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

My family was devastated at my Husbands passing. However, our faith and love kept us closer together.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

I met a lot of constituents in the 15 1/2 years I worked in Western Maryland covering Carol, Frederick, Washington, Allegheny and Garrett Counties.

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

My advice is “Time Heals All”. When things go wrong as they sometimes will and the road your traveling is all up hill, you can pause, take a deep breathe, but never quit. The sun comes up tomorrow!

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My four children. They are all very successful and have been my rock. They always say”we can’t wait to see what your next chapter will bring.”

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

Deciding to leave the "corporate world". The scary part was the financial security.

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

The actual impact was great. Family friend and community was behind me 100%.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

Always trying to give someone the courage to go for it!

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

To get out of your comfort zone. It will help you understand who you are.

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My mother has given me the encouragement to move. My better half has been my inspiration (he has shown me strength), and my family has given me support.

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

Learning and growing while raising a family, being a supportive wife to a traveling husband in the military while shadow boxing my own internal fear of failure. I have always enjoyed a challenge in my career path and the natural pivot that comes with educational growth and outgrowing a position you have embraced for the next chapter. Coupling this with being in crisis intervention and the legal field in Nebraska, Washington, DC and Maryland in the areas ranging from criminal law, domestic violence, negligence and vulnerable persons while in also in college, working multiple jobs to pay for education, raising family and being present for balance in life created challenge.

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

Learning when something is toxic, when to let go of unhealthy practices, people and environments, how to balance the needs to self, family and career became a self care journey that I treasure and grow stronger from daily. I believe in giving of time, treasure and ability but have learned that balancing them and making sure there is not holes in the buckets in your life makes your life fuller and more rewarding.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

I have learned that a jury forms opinion a judge (and God) hand down judgment - it is my role to listen and provide support. People are inspiring and when they are heard, they are able to be motivated and inspire themselves and so many others.

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Listen more, learn everywhere and laugh at yourself.

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My family and those I choose to share my life with. As easy and simplistic as that sounds. My husband is the type who is not intimidated by my growth and realizes the moment he thinks he has figured me out, I am about to change. He loves and laughs unconditionally. My children (by birth and through relationship with my sons) are incredible humans who have taught me more than I could ever have hoped to have taught them. My parents did the very best that they could as we grew up with limited resources, we played games (and your win was won and your loss was hard). My grandfather, Albertus Hynen came to this country a Dutch immigrant following the horrors of the Nazi regime having endured unimaginable atrocities that he rarely spoke but maintained his faith and humanity. He loved easily and the bonds with his family are strong today in my cousin, her family, my brother and his family.

My business partner, Lori Dixon, for her creativity, spunk and ability to keep going despite adversity, hardships and the uphill battle that is small business ownership during difficult times. The amazing friendships that I am blessed and honor to cherish each day- the diversity and growth that I receive from each one of them.

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

Discovering I had 4 blockages in my heart, requiring 4 vessel bypass surgeries. My symptoms resembled severe heart burn, so I was convinced it was a GI problem. The GI doctor did not believe it was a GI issue, and after 12 months of visiting my cardiologist & GI doctor, the decision was made to perform a Thallium Stress test. This test could not be completed due to the blockages. On the same day, my cardiologist sent me to Meritus for a cardiac catheterization. This procedure confirmed I needed heart surgery, stents would not suffice. My cardiologist met with me to review these results and suggested I find a surgeon, either in Washington, DC or Baltimore. This news was so sudden and serious, I felt like my head was spinning. I chose a surgeon at Winchester Medical Center, met with him as soon as I could, and was scheduled for surgery on July 26, 2019.

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

My family was very supportive, as were my friends and co-workers. Most folks were shocked, because I am a fairly active, social person. My mom was in a nursing home at the time, but I was unable to visit her for weeks, per doctor's orders. During my recovery, friends came to visit with food, flowers, and fellowship. My recovery was delayed due to excess fluid retention. My involvement with Big Brothers/Big Sisters was halted for several weeks. Thankfully, I had FMLA to cover me while out of work.  

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

I would encourage anyone facing this dilemma to be strong and hopeful!! I was really scared but was afraid to hear myself say those words!! A support system is critical to healing!

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Be strong and reach out to loved ones for support. Learn as much as possible about the procedure you might be facing, and talk with others who have been through it!

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My loved ones are my inspiration, all were positive, loving and helpful!

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

Transitioning into a new field as a small business owner while learning the art and nuances of making wine, being a caregiver to my aging mother following the passing of my beloved father in an area of Maryland that was new to me. During the initial years of business there were many pivots and significant growing pains as I learned about personalities, loyalties and varying levels of commitment. Following the passing of my mother, relocating-downsizing while continuing to learn, grow and run a small business away from my family, friends and support network.

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

This made me stronger and more confident in who I am. I embraced the community of Hagerstown and began building a new support network.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

I just try to do the best product I can, support other local businesses and remember to pay things forward as much as I can.

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Believe in yourself and know that with every step forward there may be some back but keep trying. Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My brother and sister believed in me and this inspired me to keep going.

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

Learning to love myself and believe in myself and find my own strength after a deep loss. It's an everyday challenge, and there will be good and bad days but I remain proud of those good days and I'm thankful for the challenges because they also make me stronger. 

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

 Often times people are used to seeing you in the same position they've always had in the past; of quietness, passive and reserved not recognizing or maybe wanting to accept your personal growth. Only you know your heart, mind, soul and spirit; only you! You can't let anyone's views of you deter your growth; continue to move forward in prayer and your faith.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

By continuing to stay positive and keep working hard on what is important to you --you don't know what you can do until you're doing it. Know that others' opinions are just that, their opinions; don't worry about the folks who feel the need to rain down judgement on you, no one person lives an unflawed life. Create unrelenting 'Safe Spaces' for yourself and surround yourself with those who uplift and encourage. And learn to never make assumptions about others... you just could be wrong. 

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Your love is not conditional. Never let anyone tell your story from their perspective, because no one else can tell your truth but you. If people refuse to see your growth, your strength, your power...continue to grow anyway, continue to get stronger anyway and stand strong in your own truth and power! 

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

Rev. Bernice King. She leads with true sincerity and inspires through a strong sense of compassion and righteous character.

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

There are so many different kinds of challenges it's hard to select one. In my personal life, I am the youngest of five children and my father died when I was five. My mom, though devastated by grief and never having had to work in her life, managed to go back to school and get a job and maintain the suburban middle-class existence she was afraid we would lose. That was perhaps, her biggest challenge--but it taught me so much. It taught me about optimism, hard work, the importance of being able to support yourself and not be dependent on others. My mother and I often said we grew up together because she went through so many new challenges while raising me, and I was extraordinarily proud of her. And while she felt guilty because I was a "latchkey" kid--I was happy to be able to do little things like put the teakettle on so that the water would be hot when she got home from work. She was amazingly inspirational because through her many challenges she remained future focused and optimistic. (I could easily write a book about the things she taught me through her life. ) For me personally, and my career, the most significant challenge was probably my transition to motherhood. When I was pregnant, three other women I worked with were also pregnant. Although all initially tried to return to work, I am the only one that managed to continue my career. That tells me that it's still really hard to find the right balance, to find the right child care, to have a relationship based on equal sharing of child rearing. Also, If I hadn't received a promotion at this point in my career, I would not have been able to afford childcare. 

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

I picked a great life partner. When things became more difficult for me, he was there. As my job grew and took more of my time, he took on more home responsibility. He has become a terrific cook. However you know that video that circulated a while back--about all the family work and caretaking women do that is invisible? I think that's still largely the case.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

In my personal life, when I vote, I vote with great deliberation for the candidate that I think will most help women in situations like my mother was in . As a museum director, I believe deeply in museums as community centers, places of welcoming, and places to learn humanist values. My dad was a museum director, and my mom, after returning to school became a librarian--so there's a common thread of using collections to connect to people and to teach. I work very hard to make sure the exhibitions, programs, and activities that the museum offers are appealing, accessible, and that we reach out to families and children. We've been focusing on developing collaborations with other non-profits to bring museum education and art experiences to underserved audiences and rural communities. And we try to program a schedule of exhibitions that helps us connect to our community in different ways. Museums are first and foremost educational organizations for all ages. I often say that in museums we can be quantitative (and count the number of visitors we get) but the most important measure is qualitative (did we impact someone's life today?) Changing even one life is a big deal. 

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

You need to have people around you who believe in you. I've been lucky--I had a start with a solid, loving, empowering family --but I've realized as I've matured that it's important to keep looking for the people you can learn from, keep looking for models to emulate, keep being future focused. 

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My parents and siblings (when the museum live streamed my swearing in as director my whole family was watching on line), my husband who, interestingly, has some similar personality traits to my mom--and he's always believed in me more than I have believed in myself. I have a number of museum heroes I've worked with and stayed in contact with over the years--and I do have colleagues I can call and bounce ideas off of. 

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

As a young woman working in the Middle East, mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan, I overcame challenges on a daily basis, whether it was running into a bunker to avoid death by a rocket; trying to work in a country where I didn’t speak the language; hoping to be effective in a culture where women are considered less than; trying to get a seat at the table full of older men; leaving my family and friends to chart a path for myself, there are very few who can relate to these challenges. Yet, I didn’t regret a day…well there was the day I literally had to abandon my vehicle to duck and cover during bombing when I had a second thought, and then again in Afghanistan as I rode into Herat and my taxi driver told me that the road we were on was the deadliest in all of Afghanistan because it was the only way in, and the only way out…well other than those two days…I harnessed a deep desire to understand the plight of women across the world and capitalized on opportunity to explore various kinds of conflict within a war, developing Nations, different cultures and international politics.  

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

Distance can be quite an inquisitive ingredient when added to the mix of feelings of danger and separation. It took a few seasons to realize that every time the news would break with a new story on conflict or terror in the Middle East my family, friends and loved ones felt at a loss to help, defend or protect me. It caused them great worry. For my family and friends they were often scared and consistently expressed their desire for me to stop working in these dangerous and uncertain places. I had to remember to call or email and affirm I was safe and sound, and let them know that I was pursuing opportunities that I found interesting and professionally beneficial. 

It took a few seasons to understand that entertaining thoughts of returning to Afghanistan or Iraq would put my loved ones back on high alert and their reactions were not pretty. How many chances should one young lady take?

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

I parlayed international experience abroad into a Chief of Staff role on the Iraq desk at the State Department. When ISIS gained strength as a new terrorist group millions of refugees fled Iraq. It was really difficult to see photos and I felt like I needed to do more. Some of us can collect clothes, food and share necessities, but I had the power to write it down and have the report and ideas for action go to the President’s desk. I think that is a big impact to make, though there are many days I wish I could be the one with the power for further decisive action, I would do a lot of things differently if I carried the little, black football.

When I get frustrated at how the world is run, I realized I could complain, or I could start doing something. And I am passionate about politics because our Republic sets America apart from the world and I want to defend and protect it. Last year I looked at the local ballot, and it was huge! And I didn’t know what the Judge of the Orphan court did and why we would vote for three. I decided I would not go into the voting booth not knowing all of the candidates on the ballot so I set out to research the candidates. And it took me a year! Along the way I found out Washington County has 25 Boards and Commissions charged with making policy recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners and I applied.  

It is an honor to serve women in Washington County. I want to continue to understand the issues, challenges and opportunities of women as wives, homemakers, mothers, professionals and the myriad other hats we wear, and support the women in our community, and hopefully we will see more women at the table changing the world!

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Work hard when no one is watching, make the most of every opportunity and be prepared. I have been elevated professionally by colleagues I least expected because my work ethic gave me a good reputation. When you get a call, take it! It is so easy to hesitate and let fear hold us back, but opportunity doesn’t always wait for the time it takes to make a pro/con list. Overthinking causes a lot of anxiety. 

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

For most of my life I would say, my mother, she was widowed when I was three years old, she modeled being a working mom and was passionate about what she did as a public school teacher, then Administrator and now on the School Board, but her praise means less now that I am a mother too and I find motivation to move forward for my husband and children. The old adage, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree is pretty true! So I am encouraged to live well, model good and Godly standards that my kids will aspire to, and I want America to afford them freedoms that I have had the luxury of taking for granted. I want to serve and protect the country by contributing and supporting responsible and effective government that protects our personal freedoms, liberty and opportunity. I learned to appreciate that so many have died or been injured so we could have religious freedom and later democratic elections rather than live under the rule of a king. As my mother did, I want to share my love of God and our country with my children who will hopefully learn and carry the torch throughout the world as I was fortunate to have had amazing opportunities to do.

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

My husband died at age 50 from brain cancer. He was ill one morning, lost consciousness, and was transported to Hershey Medical Center from Chambersburg Hospital. Following surgery that day, my daughter (age 11) and I were told that he was "brain dead." He was taken off of life support and died the following day. I had a time-consuming full- time job, a daughter, and full financial responsibility for our small family. 

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

I had responsibility for taking care of his affairs, including his small business. I sold the business for $5,000, a very small amount, which allowed the single employee to stay employed and any clients to continue with the chiropractor who took over the office. My family and his family lived in Minnesota. They were shocked by the situation, and tried to be supportive from a distance. My work family was supportive. A memorial service was held at the College where I worked, attended by family, friends, and work family. My daughter spoke at the memorial service about her Dad, which touched a lot of the people there. She also put together a board with photos of our family, especially photos of her and her Dad. My daughter was deeply affected by the death of her father. She became depressed and had a lot of grief and trouble with adjustment to a new life.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

I returned to work after one week and managed to handle what needed to be done. Since I worked at a women's college, perhaps there were some students who noticed that I carried on under difficult circumstances. If I inspired anyone, it was probably my students, who knew that I was a caring and hard-working person. 

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Human beings are very resilient. Women, in particular, are remarkably strong.  The strength you need is in you.

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My inspiration is all of the women who have faced adversity with strength. My mother was adopted by relatives and seemed to struggle with a feeling of being different, yet she was incredibly strong through struggles within the family for us. She was strong in the face of cancer, osteoporosis that resulted in spinal fractures from bending over, and COPD that made it difficult for her to draw enough air, even on oxygen. Yet, she didn't complain and always cared for others above herself. Her mother (my grandmother) gave her up to another family, but we were very fortunate that she remained in our lives. She faced enormous challenges, growing up in abject poverty on an Indian reservation and having a baby out of wedlock (I think that is the case or out of divorce), facing a society that discriminates against those who are different. With no specific skills, she told employers that she had experience that she lacked in order to get jobs. She was strong, proud, and did pretty well as a beautician. People loved her warmth and sense of humor. Others have faced far worse situations than me and they have come through it. There is no excuse for me to fall short of my goals. 

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

One of the most significant challenges I've ever experienced was around the age of 31 right after getting elected to City Council. There were some major changes going on in my personal life, as well as getting adjusted to elected life. I just bought a home that my then 9 year old daughter Layla and I moved to, I had staffing changes at my office, I was suddenly in a very public spotlight and things were changing rapidly in my life (some good, some bad). Getting adjusted was difficult, but getting myself into a better situation was one of the bravest things I ever did.

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

Any big life changes can impact you, your family and your friends. Big life changes for a 9 year old are even more impactful, so I tried to be constantly mindful of her.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

Sometimes the best decision for yourself can be difficult but it doesn't mean it isn't still the best decision. Over the last several years I have continued to grow as a person allowing me to be more impactful in our local community. 

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Always follow what your gut tells you to do. 

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My daughter Layla is my inspiration. I love sharing in this wild journey with her and hearing her 14 year old perspective on things that I face. She cheers me on and we support each other on rough days. She also helps me see the bigger picture and is a constant reminder to keep moving toward the greater good.

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

I have a nice, calm, boring life...just the way I like it! The trauma, abuse, grief and loss that many women are forced to overcome have not been part of my story. However, my brain can quickly list off about 472 things that could possibly go wrong at any given moment of an average day. While some people have been handed burdens by other people in their lives, mine has grown organically within my own brain. 

Since I was a young child the "what ifs" have settled like a fog over every thought, dream, or goal that crossed my mind. Sometimes the anxious thoughts have been so thick that I lost sight of my path. Other times, they were lighter and I was able to fumble my way past them, keeping focused on my goals. Anxiety has impacted every decision from the simple ones like what to wear to an event all the way to the life altering ones like my college major. 

Coupled with anxiety, I am also an introvert to the extreme. I believe part of my reasoning for loving solitude is that my brain has less incoming messages and can simply focus on sorting through the overload of worries. But, being an introvert in a world that teaches us that extroverted people are the "cool kids" can be a challenging thing to navigate as a young person.

Throughout my high school and young adult years, I grew to believe that my personality and preferences were hindrances. There were many times when I was told things like:

get over it

stop worrying

be more friendly

smile

talk more

calm down

it's all in your head

don't stay to yourself so much

you're just crazy

if you were more ______, people would like you better

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

Although my friends and family were often inconvenienced by my anxiety, they were supportive and did their best to understand how my mind worked. In fact, the beginning of my journey to start seeing the positive side of my anxiety, spurred from conversations with friends and family. I clung to the idea presented to me by a family member who suggested that my "what if" thinking led me to be a great planner. I was never left facing an obstacle that my brain had not yet assessed as a possibility. Another time someone said, "it's amazing the things you hear because you're so quiet in group settings." He said, "I am always the talker but I wish I could learn to listen more intently like you do." Other people started to admire my ability to empathize and care for people who were struggling. It was through those conversations that I began to start considering my anxiety and introverted personality as positives instead of setbacks.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

The easy answer is that I chose mental health as my field of practice with a specific focus on children and adolescents. Through my own journey of finding peace with my disorder, I decided that I wanted to be influential in helping others achieve their dreams despite their anxious thoughts...but at a much younger age than I did. For the past 17 years I have worked at Washington County Mental Health Authority as the Director of Child and Adolescent Services.

Outside of work, I volunteer my time to support children in finding and embracing their best qualities. One way I do this is through volunteering in my children's classrooms at school. Helping young people learn the art of scrapbooking has proved to be therapeutic for me and them! I truly love watching youth identify their own strengths and showcasing those qualities through their own scrapbooks. 

Head Start is an organization that offers support, education, and encouragement to some of the youngest members of our community. I am honored to support the great work that Head Start does by serving as a member of the board of directors.

I have also been a lifetime supporter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Over the past 20 years I have worked with the agency as an intern, a camp counselor, a school-based match support specialist, a Big Sister, and for the last 9 years I have served on the board of directors for our Washington County affiliate. This program has a special place in my heart because 1:1 mentoring is one of the best ways to assist young people in finding their strengths and interests at an early age.

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Be YOU! For every negative aspect of the things you have endured or your personality traits, there are always positives. Focus on the things you do well and that positive thinking will carry you through! 

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

People who embrace their struggles and share their stories freely are inspirational to me. I did not know other people with anxiety as a child and would not even learn the term until I was in my late teens. There were many years when I believed I was alone in my challenges. I feel encouraged every time I hear a story, read an essay, or see a friend post on social media about their experiences with anxiety. 

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

Losing my mom at the age of 61, after walking with her through an 11 year journey battling two types of cancer. In the midst of losing my mom, I had a horrible bike accident that lead to 2 years of dental work and surgeries to put my face back together. All the while I was maintaining my home and raising my two sons. It was a season of life where there was not enough of me to go around even before my bike accident.

After losing my mom, I experienced depression and grief for the first time in my life. While the doctors and dentists were putting me back together, my heart and soul were just going through the motions of life. I wondered, if I would ever feel normal again.

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

My family pulled together, my friends showed up and my community acted in practical loving ways, bringing meals, sending cards, lending a listening ear as I needed to process of my grief.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

I call myself a "hope dealer" because I know what it feels like to be on a path of losing hope. As I am around other women, I listen with the ears of a hope coach. When I sense someone is losing hope in any situation, I naturally go into "encouraging" mode. I've learned what it takes to get through grief and heartache. I had amazing mentors, and friends encouraging me to keep showing up even when I didn't feel like it, trusting that the feeling would come back. I learned how important it is to stay active physically and spiritually and to fuel my body to fight it's way back.

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Find a mentor and/or get into counseling where you can share your emotions. Continue to meet with family and friends even when you don't feel like it. Life is made up of doing things that we don't feel like doing which leads to feeling like doing a lot of things. Remember, this is a season and it will pass, seek to learn lessons and believe that you are going to get through this and there is purpose in the pain you are currently experiencing.

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

My inspiration comes from my relationship with God. I have many women of faith in my life that encourage and advise me and I want nothing more than to pay that forward. I believe we all need great listeners in our life. As I pray, I know God is my number one listener. God provides friends to listen and guide and I believe he inspires and directs me. He has opened doors for me and also allows challenges in my life to teach me and prepare me to help others.

What is the most significant challenge you have experienced?

The biggest challenges I have faced have been self-induced and mainly point to one culprit—my own thoughts and mindset. I was 26 years old when I became Executive Director of Girls Inc. I was taking on a role that I was extremely passionate about, but not necessarily qualified for. I didn’t know how to balance my own check book, let alone manage a $200,000 dollar budget. I was newly married, starting a family and working 60 plus hours per week. I was overwhelmed and navigating feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, and inadequacy.

I turned to my support system: my mentors, colleagues, and friends. What is the old saying, “Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you”? That is exactly what I did. I surrounded myself with positive, passionate and remarkable people, soaking up their knowledge and advice like a sponge, growing every day, not only professionally but personally. I experienced a fundamental shift as I gained more confidence.

I have now been with Girls Inc. for 29 years, raised 4 amazing, strong-willed children and just celebrated my 27th wedding anniversary. I have personally experienced sadness, many, many failures, hardships, and disappointments. While it’s certainly appealing to envision life free of challenges, it is absolutely unrealistic. The challenges, insecurities, feelings of self-doubt, all of it, allowed me to grow in ways I never thought possible. I now understand that what mattered most was not the obstacles themselves, but rather the lessons I continue to learn along the way.

How did this impact you, your family, your friends, and community?

There is no single recipe to inspire everyone. I have learned that being genuine and having integrity are the most important ingredients.

Believing in yourself is about being inspired. When you are inspired, it changes the way you think and feel about yourself, which then creates positive action. I hope I have inspired others to take risks, believe in themselves and learn from failure.

How have you used this challenge to inspire others or make an impact in our local community?

The value of thinking of others before oneself is essential to building the character of individuals, families, and communities. For me, the impact of my experiences have inspired me to be more involved, volunteer, build relationships, find opportunities where I can make positive change, and focus on issues that most impact our community. As a mother, friend, mentor, and a visionary for the organization I lead, I want to be a change agent. I hope I have inspired others by leading by example, building character and personal values thus resulting in greater community.

What advice would you give to a woman or girl who is facing the same challenge?

Insecurities and self- doubt happen every day in life. As teenagers, we often face challenges that revolve around relationships, sports, peer pressure, bullying, obesity, school, parents…the list goes on. It is important to remember that these challenges are steppingstones. Handling these challenges in a positive and productive way is what is important and often has an impact on the path we choose in life. Believe in yourself. Surround yourself with positive people who lift you up, not drag you down. It’s an important reminder for all of us that life’s difficulties often garner rewards that far outweigh the initial challenges. Be the change you want to inspire. Your reputation, your character and your behavior inspire people more than anything else. People will forget what you said, but they never forget how you made them feel.

Who is your inspiration and how do they encourage you to continue moving forward?

Throughout my life, I have been so fortunate to have known many inspirational people: my parents, board members, friends and colleagues who mentored me. The one thing they all had in common was their belief in me and their ability to inspire me.

Sharon Schrock, was a Girls Inc. alumni, staff member in the 80’s, board member and my mentor. She was the person that pushed me into applying for the Executive Director position at Girls Inc. Many doubted my capabilities, but she encouraged me by saying that I the heart and passion the position needed and that was something you couldn’t teach. She said the rest of the job responsibilities I could learn. She said my enthusiasm was infectious and, in her heart, she had no doubt I was the right person for this job.