Rachel is Out to Change the World!

Rachel is a first-semester student at Salt Lake Community College. She passionately embraces all that returning to school has to offer, and shapes her classes to her life experiences. For the past couple months two classes in particular have worked their way into many conversations. The first deals with photography and diversity-- or perhaps, diversity through the camera's eye. The other is simply (to my mind): "LEADERSHIP".

Through "LEADERHIP", spurred on by her own experiences there, Rachel is chairing a committee of students in her class in organizing a fundraiser for the local YWCA battered women's shelter. She dreams big -- of fancy $100 plate dinners in formal dress, awesome auctions, sponsers with MEANS. She pushes, prods, motivates, encourages, and picks up the slack from those who have not been so inspired to allow one (probably required) class to consume their lives. She adjusts to the reality of "just making it happen", accepting the possibility of poor college students dining on paper plates in their casual best, and hoping to "at least break even".

Rachel continues to spearhead and ramrod her big EVENT. She is determined not fail personally and even more determined not to fail those she is working with and for. Meanwhile, she has "moved on". She is frustrated with having to overcome the hurdles placed by working through the class. She plans to open a school service club to support and raise funds and awareness for the YWCA. She dreams of becoming employed by a non-profit, charitable organization that she is passionate about -- and changing their world.

Through the process of "LEADERSHIP" Rachel has become inspired. Her leadership in "LEADERSHIP" has re-ignited the passion within her. Not content to simply reinvent herself and her life - to change her world, Rachel is out to CHANGE THE WORLD. It wouldn't surprise me if she does. I always knew she had it in her.

The Story

Many moons ago, I sat in my chair with family life happening around me.

While appreciating the various interactions around me, I engaged in musings of my mother-- how she handled the various escapades her ten offspring stumbled into, and how she might deal with those I faced. In a sudden epiphany I realized that someday down the road, one of MY children would likely be sitting in her chair musing over the way I'VE shown.

Without warning I burst upright in my chair, flung my arms wide, and proclaimed in my loudest voice:

I AM the Mom!!

It has become one of those moments that becomes trademarked in families. On occasion my children bob before me "You ARE the mom!" and, on occasion, the mother of my (cuter-than-yours) precious granddaughter has been heard to utter.  "I AM the Mom."