Preaching is Easier than Doing

I fully support my students in their goals, and can be asked to coach them as they face difficult decisions. I believe in them and I share my enthusiasm for their ideas, even though I know the path they are choosing is hard and they are not quite ready. I want them to go for it!

But when it comes to myself, and I have seen other women do the same thing, we are much harder on ourselves. Why is that?

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A Thank You Letter to Libraries

“The public library is a center of public happiness first, of public education next.” ― John Cotton Dana , A Library Primer (1903) . Libraries have been, and will likely always be, a large part of my life. My library at Holy Name Catholic School was my first volunteer experience, at the age of 10. By volunteering in the library, I could come to school early before the other students arrived, and sort and shelve books. I remember feeling peaceful while my classmates arrived on buses and on foot, filling the grounds outside. At the first bell, the silence would end, and I would have to go to my classroom. I started a classroom library in 7th grade, complete with our very own card catalog. On weekends, I would go to the Pembroke Public Library , finding a quiet corner usually on the second floor and escape in books, the outside world fading away to barely a hum. I spent many hours in that Public Library ...

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The past week, I have been thinking a lot about my own background and why I do the work I do; teaching about nonprofits and helping nonprofits get stronger to fulfill their mission. I love everything I have the privilege of doing. Today, I read about an interesting partnership which brought three aspects of my own life together: faith, education, and service. The University of Ottawa is partnering with the Ottawa Mission , a homeless shelter, St. Paul University , and First Baptist Church to offer "Discovery University". This experience is a true partnership where non-credit courses are taught by university professors and all textbooks and course materials are provided at no cost to the students. From the press release , "the courses are real gifts of hope that will enlighten the life of many individuals". This is faith in action. This is social justice in action. This is service in action. I am a proud alum of the University of Ottawa and ev...

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Recovering Executive Director

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