Honoring International Women’s Day
By: Tara Casazza – TRUE Mentors Board President
One of my favorite quotes from a very successful female leader Oprah Winfrey is, “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”
International Women’s Day – March 8th is a day to honor and celebrate the achievements of all women. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the women in my own life that have shaped me into who I am today. I am grateful to say that I have been surrounded by strong women mentors and leaders throughout different stages of my life but the one that has impacted me most was my Grandmother “Nana,” Mary Chelius.
My Nana emigrated and came to America from Ireland when she was very young. Her family was poor, but like many emigrants, they had high hopes for their new life in America. When they arrived, things were tough. Her parents struggled to support their family of five.
When she was 10 years old, her father passed away unexpectedly, and my Nana’s mother was left to support the family. She secured a job working at a hospital which provided housing, but her children weren’t able to stay with her. My Nana was sent to live at a boarding school for girls. Since her aunt worked at the school, my Nana was able to live and attend for free tuition.
Although she was grateful for this opportunity, she was lonely and far from home. She didn’t have the same resources as many of the other children that attended. Fortunately, she became close with one of her teachers, a mentor, who took her under her wing and looked out for her.
As her 11th birthday approached, she wondered if anyone would remember. She woke up that morning and walked into her classroom and on her desk was a banana with a red ribbon on it, a small birthday gift from her teacher.
This was a story that my Nana shared every year on her birthday until she passed away at 92 years old. She recalled how special this one woman made her feel. This small gesture gave her hope that the future would be better. The impact that this teacher had on her life when she was a child was instrumental. It shaped her into a loving, giving and kind woman. She then dedicated her life to serving others by giving back and never took anything for granted.
As the TRUE Mentors Board President, I am grateful to be part of an organization so dedicated to serving youth. We support each other and celebrate our differences for not only women within our organization but for all participants, mentors and volunteers that are part of the TRUE Mentors family.
I see Women’s History Day as a reminder that we shouldn’t underestimate the impact that a person can have on the lives of those they work with today. 2021 marks 10 years since TRUE Mentors opened, and in that time over 1,300 volunteers have worked with us, the majority of which have been women.
Each of them has left a mark on this agency and the 500+ youth we have served. TRUE Mentors hopes their experiences with us are stories that are shared with family for years to come!
This Month at TRUE Mentors don’t miss:
Tuesday 3/8/21:
6-7 PM Women’s History Month Poetry Lesson
7-8 PM Arts & Crafts: Women Awards
Thursday 3/25/21
7-8 PM Youth Leadership Discussion: Women’s History Month & Intersectionality
Email Andrew Hickman at Andrew@truementors.org for details.