I come to you with no sage advice.  No real words of wisdom.  Just a very lucky woman who has been given incredible gifts from her parents and mentors, who has also worked very hard to be where she is today.

The oldest of  four children, my next eldest sibling is 5 years younger me.  The next two were born soon after that.  My father worked hard as an over the road trucker and my mother worked just as hard to raise the four of us. Left at home alone with four young children, my young mother needed assistance.  She inspired me to become more and do more.  She inspired me to help her and our family in ways that didn't seem possible for a girl in elementary school.  If I told you that I didn't resent it at the time, that would be a lie.  It'd also be a huge disservice to my mother if to not mention what an incredible gift she gave.  She pushed me to ask questions, to trust myself, she taught me that I was smart, and pushed me to work harder and learn more.  She encouraged me to test all limits from the time that I was a very young child.   Because of her gifts, I never bought into stereotypes, especially gender stereotyping.  From princess dresses to flag football, if it interested me I pursued it. Her gifts to me in the way she raised me bring me to my knees in gratitude today. 

Growing up in a small town in the mid west was hell.  The molds that seemed to be taught to everyone else, never existed in my mind.  These views made others see me as an outsider, and though I never wanted to conform, I yearned to fit in and be accepted with every fiber of my being.  This is extraordinarily challenging to come to terms with as a young child, but even though it was hell growing up, I wouldn't change a thing.  Including the mental and sexual abuse that I suffered from my peers.  Every piece of shit that was handed to me, I took and learned from.  Were it not for that, I would not be where I am today.  Not that I am anywhere near finished growing up, maturing, or learning.  Not by many means.  However, I can honestly say that life's biggest challenges were my biggest gifts.

Currently I am blessed to work at a place where I am being encouraged and challenged again, and am pursuing my gift of leadership.  I enjoy being pushed beyond my limit.  Not different from growing up, I still create waves today.  When walls black a path, my goal isn't to scale the wall.  My goal is always to knock the wall down so I can improve the path. 

Why is this such a challenge today?  Partly because I am a woman in a small town in the mid west.  Sad and wrong, it is what it is.  Still today, in the same small mid west town,  messages of strength and leadership are often viewed as "bossy" or "bitchy".  This stereotyping cannot stop me, or stop other men and women who yearn to lead, and strive to inspire change. We cannot sit and be content with being sweet so others will accept us.  We need to push boundaries, we need to lead, and to eventually give back to the community and the world.