Liz Hansen In the summer of 2007, at 13 years old, I went on a missions trip to Costa Rice with Global Expeditions. As a missionary I was put in a small group of 3 with other girls from my trip and we roomed together, ate together, and ministered together. We were also given a missionary advisor, an older woman, to kind of be out big sister/mom/aunt/leader for the trip. My MA was an intern from the Honor Academy named Liz Hansen. Of all 5 of these women, I spent the smallest amount of time with Liz. I spent two weeks with her, and only two weeks. Two weeks is not that large of an amount of time, but it was enough. Liz helped me begin to realize my worth and value and my identity. We had a rule in our group that if we said something negative about ourselves we had to say 3 real, deep, and important positive things about ourselves. It may seem silly but when you're a 13 year old girl wearing cargo shorts with a ridiculous haircut hearing yourself say those things and having someone older, that you look up to affirm those positive things means a lot and hey I still remember it 7 years later. I had a lot of late night talks with Liz about myself and my thoughts and what I thought about myself. She shared her testimony with me. I was insecure and thought I didn't matter. Liz spoke truth over my life and she made me speak truth over myself. She showed me that I was the amazing, precious, and powerful daughter of Christ. Liz was the first person that I was related to and that I thought was cool to look at me and tell me that I was beautiful and that I mattered. Liz has had a lasting impact on my life ever since then in other ways too. Liz was an intern at The Honor Academy in Texas and I wanted to be just like her. I wanted to do the internship and go on a missions trip and be a MA for someone and I wanted to be someone's Liz. As I grew up the reasoning behind wanting to do the internship shifted a little bit but I never would have done it had it not been for Liz. I joined The Honor Academy of The Ozarks, August 2012. I did two years at the internship. My second year I become a Core Advisor (year round MA for younger interns) and I went on a missions trip and I was an MA and I got to be somebody's Liz. Then there's the fact that the internship completely changed my life and the course of my life and helped figure out what I wanted to do with my life...and it all started with Liz. So, thank you Liz. (That's Liz in the black shirt, and my group.)
Kim Bowmaster Science and Math have always been my two least favorite subjects. Mrs.Bow was my 8th grade science teacher and her impact was not causing my to love science. She did try though. Really the impact from Mrs.Bow came from the afternoons I spent in her class room hanging out after school was over, writing "poodles are evil," over and over again on her white board. I don't know why I was in her room those afternoons...I wasn't in trouble, I wasn't getting tutoring or anything...I was just there hanging out. Mrs.Bow was a great teacher...she made learning science fun, even for me. Through out the year between spending time in her class and spending time in her classroom after class I spent a lot of time with her. I spent a lot of time talking and reading and doing whatever it is 8th graders do after school. We talked about the fact that I hated science class and would rather be in English...and I was always amazed that while she did try to make science fun for me she mainly encouraged me in my love for English, writing, and literature. We talked about my plans for the future and what I wanted to do with my life. She was with me while my mind went from being a teacher, to photographer, to journalist, to war correspondent, to author, to where I've finally landed in my future goals as working with victims of Human Trafficking. She encouraged me in each of these dreams and endeavors. She always made sure and told me how proud she was of me even if the pursuit and passion was not the subject that she herself taught and loved....because she didn't just teach science because she loved science....she taught students because she loved students. Mrs.Bow always encouraged me to do what I loved even if it wasn't what other people wanted me to do...or even what they loved doing. She always told me how smart, creative, and passionate I was. She believed in me. She let me know that I could do whatever I wanted to do as long as I worked hard and never gave up. She helped me believe in myself. Realize that I didn't have to be talented, or passionate, or love what everyone else loved or was talented at as long as I realized what I wanted, what I could do, and as long as I helped other people. She always told me that helping and loving other people was more important than whatever I could accomplish, and she showed me that through her actions and her teaching. I am talented, and creative, and passionate, but if I don't use that to help other people along the way then I'm not really accomplishing anything. I still keep in touch with Mrs.Bow through snail mail and e-mails...and she is still the same amazing woman. She still encourages me, tell me she's proud of me, and loves me. Thank you Mrs.Bow for loving me, believing in me, and encouraging me through out my journey.
Andrea Berthot Mrs. Berthot has been my debate coach, forensics coach, creative writing teacher, advanced creative writing teacher, English 3 teacher, a walking book recommendation, a writing mentor, and a huge encouragement throughout my high school life. Mrs. Berthot helped me in several ways. She helped me discover my passion for public speaking, and helped me explore and further my passions for writing and literature. She gave me writing advice and encouragement (and FYI she'll soon be a published author so that's awesome!) She told me to keep working because my stuff is worth being published. Mrs. Berthot gave me something else as well...she did something very similar to what Liz and Mrs.Bow did....just in a different way and at a different time in my life. She helped me believe in myself. She told me I was beautiful, that I was talented, that I had a story worth telling, and every time I heard her tell me that I was a good at speaking or that she loved reading what I wrote and I shouldn't stop I began to think that I really could do all that I wanted to do and that I wanted just do it, but I would be good at it and I would reach people. She taught me that I was powerful, and that I didn't need to earn acceptance or love because I was worth it. To me she is a living example of power and owning your awesomeness and not being afraid to be who you truly are or to do what you what you love and not let other people hold you back and to not doubt yourself. She helped me grasp the concept and the action of believing in myself and believing all the truths about myself. I spent a lot of time in Mrs. Berthot's room and not just because she taught 5 of my classes. I often spent my science hour in there (but I had a note!), lunches, mornings before school, and sometimes a few minutes after school. I am currently working on a book that I started in her class, and yes it's a long process, but I'm working on it and a love it....and it's because of her. I'm writing because of her. I now speak in public, often, because of her...and I have I recognize my potential, my power, and my worth a little more than when I entered her classroom for the very first time, because of her. Mrs.Berthot used her position and her own story to help me get through high school, pursue my passions, and move forward in life....but she didn't help just me. She helped every single girl that walked through her door that took time to listen to what she was really telling us between readings of The Crucible, and writing critiques, and filing information into tub after tub. Between the essays, books, research, and grammar she told us all that we were loved, we were beautiful, we were powerful, we mattered, and that we could change the world. I for one listened....and I for one was changed, and I know I'm not the only one. Thank you Mrs. Berthot....thank you so much.
Ashley Wolf August 2012 I moved out of my parents house and started Honor Academy of The Ozarks....when I walked through the door there was a very very pregnant woman waiting for me. Her name is Ashley and at the time her title was Intern Manager (now she's the Director of Operations). Ashley is more than just my intern manager (especially since I'm not an intern anymore) she's now become my leader, mentor, "big sister", confidant, encourager, and friend. Ashley can look at me and know what's wrong, why it's wrong, and exactly what to say. Ashley has been with me through so much in the past two years. Numerous break downs, my failures, she has sat with me in the hospital while I was high on pain killers, singing Disney songs and talking to imaginary people, she's been with me while I went from being spiritually immature to a somewhat slightly more mature leader. She has seen me at my very best and my very worst. I don't know how to write in a paragraph how much Ashley means to me and all that she's taught me. Ashley showed me what it means to truly be a Godly leader. She taught me important things like serving, working hard, how to correctly correct people, he important of communication, how to approach people, that it's okay to ask for help, to always rely on God, and so so much more. Basically, Ashley is the epitome of what I the kind of person and leader that I want to be. I will never forget about a month into my 2nd year at the internship and my brand new leadership role and I was so overwhelmed and ready to break and here comes Ashley in the middle of everything. She pulled me aside, hugged me, let me cry and then encourage me and told me what I needed to hear. She taught me that leadership isn't about always having it together, or knowing all of the answers. Leadership is about pushing through and overcoming, it's about problem solving and finding the answer, it's about relying on God and his word and teaching those under you to do the same. It's about being there for people and letting them know that you care and you love them and you're there to help them. She was with me through a important season in my life. A time of growth, pressure, overcoming, and change. She was always there and she helped me transform to a small timid girl. To a leader, to a woman of God that knows what God has called me to do and finding a way to do it. Without her I don't know if I would have learned all that I learned and become who I am. There is so much more I could say about Ashley and there's so much more she's taught me but a) I am in a very noisy McDonald's and I can't concentrate and b) I'm going to run out of time and space. When I look at Ashley I see a servant leader, I see strength, wisdom, and love. I just enjoy being with her....she's the best. So, thank you Ashley. Thank you for being an incredible part of my life.
Dawn Hicks Ladies and gentlemen.....the woman that birthed me and raised me. My mom! Can I just say that I don't know how eloquent this paragraph will be because my mom raised me and gave me everything I have and I don't know where to begin or where to end. First of all I am blessed to have and amazing mother. I really am. A lot of people don't have good moms or good relationships with their moms....I have both. I guess I'll start here....if I had to describe my mom in one word it would be strength. My mom is the strongest person I know. She has overcome so much in her life and she is strong...strong, strong strong. My mom has always been there for me my entire life. Everything that everyone else as done for me (see above) my mom has done for me for 20 years! My mom has always believed in me, loved me, encouraged me and all of my ventures, she's told me how great I am, and she's told me when I've been not so great. My mom has always told me what I needed to hear regardless of if I wanted to hear it or not. My mom was at every soccer game, every choir concert, band concert, she edited all of my writing, she judged debate tournaments, she always supported me. My mom also put up with me; when I was sassy, going through puberty, stressing myself out over a game, tournament, or paper (I become rather emotional when stressed), she put up with me when I was sick, angry, mean, sad, confused...all of it. She put up with all of it. Most importantly my mom taught me the important things in life...like to not give up, how to love, how to make meatloaf, that Christ always comes first no matter what. My mom taught me to follow God regardless of if it's hard or uncomfortable or if other people don't like it. She taught me that in word and example. She covered me in prayer my whole life. She believed in me. She's always been there when I'm confused and making adult decisions....she's there for me to cry and blubber and rant and she has advice....but most importantly she trusts me and has taught me how to listen to God and to make my own decisions. My mom has always shown me what faithfulness looks like...my mom is the most faithful person I know. I don't even know how to explain that. I have never known my mom to give up or walk away or to quit something. Even when it's hard she keeps going. My mom has also passed on her heart for people. She loves people and loves helping people and pouring into them and she has taught me how to do the same. My mom also encouraged my love of books and writing and learning. She taught me to value knowledge and seek it out. Most of my beliefs and morals and values I received from my mom. As I've grown up I've also learned that my mom is an incredible friend and she will always be there for me. I couldn't have asked for a better mom....because I have the best :) Thank you mom....thank you. I love you.
So here you go. Yes there are other women that are important to me like my sister, best friend, my Core Advisor, other mentors etc. But I wanted to share these 5 incredible women with you and hope that you can learn from them as well. I know I didn't do them justice or really scratch the surface of who they are and what they've done for me....but I don't know...I wrote this blog and here it is. I hope you received something from them.
~ Carrots
