March is Women’s History Month,and I wanted to take a moment to consider the women in my life who I look up to and who inspire me. This is a month of remembrance and celebration of those who have shaped and continue to shape the world we are in today. There are so many women that inspire me daily, but many in my personal life would be my close friends, professors, and the strong women in my family. I have asked some of these women that inspire me a couple questions about who inspires them and this is what they said.
Alexis Grant (my roommate)
Q: What is your age, occupation/major and where are you from?
A: “21, journalism major/fashion media and marketing minor, from Athens Maine”
Q: Who is a woman you look up to that you know in real life?
A: “My Mom and Grandma”
Q: Why is this person someone you look up to or someone who inspires you?
A: “They’re both strong women who have made me the person I am today. They’ve worked so hard throughout their lives and taught me to always be kind and respect everyone’s opinions no matter what. I’m so lucky to have great influences in my life, and I don’t know what I’d do without them! “
Q: Is there a female celebrity, someone historical, alive or dead that inspires you? If so, who?
A: “Recently I’ve been inspired by the travel blogger Kacie Rose, she’s an American living in Florence Italy working as a full time travel content creator, partnering with brands, and hosting group tours throughout Europe. She’s living the life and I love seeing her content!”
Jennifer McNicol (my mom)
Q: What is your age, occupation/major and where are you from?
A: “Age: 50, Occupation: Acquisitions and End Processing Supervisor for a county library system. Hometown: Hillsborough, NJ”
Q: Who is a woman you look up to that you know in real life?
A: “Lynn, the Deputy Director of our library”
Q: Why is this person someone you look up to or someone who inspires you?
A: “She is incredibly smart, a self-proclaimed “data nerd”, yet she is so approachable and personable. She is a leader who believes in clear communication and wants staff at all levels to feel engaged and rewarded by their work. She loves research and is very well read. I have always enjoyed her presentations, but recently had the opportunity to work more closely with her through a series of management workshops that she was leading. She shared with us that she suffered from depression, which I never would have guessed. She seems like someone who always has it all together. In college she learned that she could not keep on the way that she was going and learned ways to deal with her depression. She is so innovative at work and a big proponent of change, but she thrives on routine at home to help keep her centered. Her accomplishments are all the more impressive knowing that she has mental health challenges and I admire her even more for sharing them with us.”
Q: Is there a female celebrity, someone historical, alive or dead that inspires you? If so, who?
A: “Someone famous who inspires me is the author Gretchen Rubin. She is again someone who is very smart and curious. She is a graduate of Yale and Yale Law School and she was a clerk for Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. She realized that her real interest in research was not in the law, but in human nature and made a change to a career as a writer. I first discovered her book, “The Happiness Project” and as she was, was struck by the idea that we could actually scientifically take steps to make ourselves happier. She started the project not because she was unhappy (neither am I), but because she wanted to really appreciate all that she had in her life. This is something I want for myself as well. I appreciate all of the research behind her books – I have read them all and I am a fan of her podcast, “Happier with Gretchen Rubin”. There are always little tips, or as she calls them, “happiness hacks” that I can take away and try to incorporate in my own life.”
My mom also shares this comment to end her interview.
“In writing about these two people, I see some commonalities. They are both very smart women, who love to learn and pass on that knowledge to help others. They care about people improving their quality of life. I also consider myself a lifelong learner who finds it rewarding to advocate for others. One of things I like best about working for a library is the free access to information for everyone”.
Emma McNicol (my sister)
Q: What is your age, occupation/major and where are you from?
A: “I am an 18 year old early childhood education major from Hillsborough NJ.
Q: Who is a woman you look up to that you know in real life?
A: “Someone who I look up to who I know in real life is Miss Dunne”
Q: Why is this person someone you look up to or someone who inspires you?
A: “I loved her as a teacher and she made me wanna be a teacher because of how fun she made class. She was also the best track coach I have ever had”.
Q: Is there a female celebrity, someone historical, alive or dead that inspires you? If so, who?
A: “Someone famous who inspires me is Mikayla Jane. I loved the way she does different eye looks and she inspires me to do different eye looks and makeup looks that I wouldn’t normally do”.
Marisa Mentekidis (my roommate)
Q: What is your age, occupation/major and where are you from?
A: “I am 20 years old, a student at Lasell University studying Hospitality Management Major with a minor in Marketing and I’m from Ludlow MA”
Q: Who is a woman you look up to that you know in real life?
A: “A woman that I look up to in real life is my mom”
Q: Why is this person someone you look up to or someone who inspires you?
A: “My mom is someone that inspires me because she has set an example for me of what it means to be a woman of strength and grace. She has always put the wellbeing of her children first and has built a positive and loving home for my family. To be her daughter is a privilege and it is my life goal to become half the woman she is.”
Q: Is there a female celebrity, someone historical, alive or dead that inspires you? If so, who?
A: “There are many women that are inspiring throughout history but there isn’t simply one that stands out to me.”
Sydney Veilleux (college friend)
Q: What is your age, occupation/major and where are you from?
A: “I am 21, my major is fashion merchandising and I have a minor in event management. I am from Skowhegan Maine.”
Q: Who is a woman you look up to that you know in real life?
A: “I look up to my mom (Sharon)”
Q: Why is this person someone you look up to or someone who inspires you?
A: “She inspires me because she has raised me on her own for almost my whole life. She has always made sure that I have had what I needed and more. She is always looking out for others and has given me support and love in ways that cannot be measured . I strive to do the same”
Q: Is there a female celebrity, someone historical, alive or dead that inspires you? If so, who?
A: “A female celebrity that inspires me is Zendaya, she is humble within her career and is so giving. She has never been problematic and is always doing what she needs to do in a graceful manner, though she stands up for what she believes in and doesn’t take no for an answer.”