Heart of Haiti... Nancy - A Woman Who Helped Me

I’m blessed to participate with CleverGirl in another blog post supporting Heart of Haiti. This time we are honoring women who have helped us. At the end of this post, you will find a discount code for wonderful handmade items from Macy’s Heart of Haiti and Rwanda Path to Peace products.

A Woman Who Helped Me

When I think about the women in my life that have made a difference, one immediately jumps to mind. Her name is Nancy. We worked together at a local community college. When I started there, I had no idea the impact she would have on my life.

She is a model for strong women everywhere. Nancy has filled many roles in the college/university setting – Department Chair, Professor, VP, President. Her strength is her moniker. She’s a dogged worker who really cares about her students and her employees. It was easy to rally behind her because I knew she had our backs as well. But there’s more to it…

Nancy earned her Doctorate and worked in a “man’s” job for years before educational administration was open to women. She did this all while raising her son on her own. No small task. When I met her, she was helping support her now grown son while also taking care of her mother with Alzheimer’s. She was doing this while commuting at least an hour each way to work and building a strong developmental education department and academic support lab. The proverbial – “super woman”.

When I started at the college, she hired me to work in the academic support lab while I was earning my Master’s degree. Having her as a role model made striving for excellence easy. When a position opened teaching English, she encouraged and supported me. Teaching under her was a blessing. I learned to really give my time, energy, and, most importantly, compassion to my students. I hated to see her go.

While she has moved to Arkansas to help her son and his family, she continues to be my good friend. I still look to her for a model of strength and perseverance. Hopefully, I’m able to provide a little reciprocal comfort as well.

I continue to see her face issues that would bring most women to their knees with grace and determination. She supports those she loves without reservation, sometimes to a fault. But, love does that, doesn’t it? I’m very blessed to have this woman in my life.

Is there a woman in your life that has helped you?

Mother’s day is May 8th. Now is the time to remember that special woman who has helped you in your life. If you would like to also support Heart for Haiti, CleverGirls is providing a discount of 15% on your Mother’s Day gift purchase of Heart of Haiti and Rwanda Path to Peace products using the code CLEVERGIRLS between May 3rd and May 8th. Simply visit http://bit.ly/gaalFP for gorgeous handmade items.

*** I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.