Welcome to Coffee & Conversation!
We know you've always wanted a chance to find out what your favorite bloggers really have going on in life. What's on their hearts. To have a coffee blate where you can pour out what's on your mind.
Well this is a weekly link up that gives you just that opportunity. Grab a cup, and join the conversation.
These aren't your typical, "What's your favorite craft?" or "Tell me something silly about you" questions. They hit real life and are about creating a conversation with your bloggy buds.
SO COME LINK UP WITH YOUR HOSTS!
RULES
1// Follow your hosts via GFC
Lauren Kalyn
2// Link up your blog post answering that week's question instead of the main url for your blog. {Make sure to link back via text or the button below}
3// Have fun!! Visit other links and join the conversation with everyone. This is a conversation starter, so if you have a lot to say on the topic - run with it! :)
GRAB A BUTTON!
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Who has influenced you the most in your life - personally or professionally - and why?
Personally and professionally, I have been inspired by the same person.
Meet Melynda, friends. She is one of a kind!
Meet Melynda, friends. She is one of a kind!
When it comes to personal influence, I am so lucky to have grown up in a "small town USA" environment. As the old cliche goes, "everybody knows everybody" which can be good and bad at times. If I said a swear word, my parents knew about it within an hour and all directions included "the 4 way stop" as a reference.
The same people I went to school with were the same people I saw at the grocery store, sitting across the pews from me in church, and at the community ball park watching baseball or softball games. Like many other small town gals, I spent a lot of time at school back in the day. I was involved in everything when it came to organizations. I was very much a people pleaser and had a terribly difficult time saying "no" to many things. However, when I was not at school you can find me at church every time the doors were open.
Graduating with a class of 18 both limited and expanded my opportunities. Ultimately, the choice was mine when it came to becoming something more, something larger than the population number on the sign welcoming you into town. To make a difference, you needed time, selflessness, energy, courage, and the support of many others.
Thankfully, I had each of these attributed to my life because of this amazing lady. I met this fabulous woman in 9th grade although I knew of her much earlier in life. Since the ripe age of 15 she has taught me a lot about faith, life, and love that I will forever cherish and always be reminded of through my future endeavors.
The same people I went to school with were the same people I saw at the grocery store, sitting across the pews from me in church, and at the community ball park watching baseball or softball games. Like many other small town gals, I spent a lot of time at school back in the day. I was involved in everything when it came to organizations. I was very much a people pleaser and had a terribly difficult time saying "no" to many things. However, when I was not at school you can find me at church every time the doors were open.
Graduating with a class of 18 both limited and expanded my opportunities. Ultimately, the choice was mine when it came to becoming something more, something larger than the population number on the sign welcoming you into town. To make a difference, you needed time, selflessness, energy, courage, and the support of many others.
Thankfully, I had each of these attributed to my life because of this amazing lady. I met this fabulous woman in 9th grade although I knew of her much earlier in life. Since the ripe age of 15 she has taught me a lot about faith, life, and love that I will forever cherish and always be reminded of through my future endeavors.
During my junior high years I had the opportunity to have this this lady as a teacher as well. At the time, she impacted my life more than I ever knew was possible. Today, she is one of the first that I turn to when I need advice, love, or support. This lady is real. She doesn't sugar coat anything and will set you straight in a minute.
Not only was she my English teacher though. She was my Choctaw County Junior Miss and Alabama State Junior Miss coach, First Baptist Youth Minister, the last person I hugged the night of my high school graduation, the first person I woke up to on my wedding day, and currently represents a Mother figure in my life.
When it comes to love and my husband, she has been there through it all with us. She was the first person I contacted when I was having boy problems in high school and college. When Tony and I became engaged, she was the first to know outside of my parents. Her marriage is one that we look up to for so many reasons.
Now, let's talk professional influence.
I believe it is important to mention that none of these memories would have ever been possible had she not become an educator many years ago. When I think back on my Patrician years, I am reminded the most of this woman. She taught me to work hard to express my creative side, artistically and academically, give it everything I have even when I am involved in way too many organizations and extracurricular activities, and do all that I can to be the best at what I love.
Not only was she my English teacher though. She was my Choctaw County Junior Miss and Alabama State Junior Miss coach, First Baptist Youth Minister, the last person I hugged the night of my high school graduation, the first person I woke up to on my wedding day, and currently represents a Mother figure in my life.
When it comes to love and my husband, she has been there through it all with us. She was the first person I contacted when I was having boy problems in high school and college. When Tony and I became engaged, she was the first to know outside of my parents. Her marriage is one that we look up to for so many reasons.
Now, let's talk professional influence.
I believe it is important to mention that none of these memories would have ever been possible had she not become an educator many years ago. When I think back on my Patrician years, I am reminded the most of this woman. She taught me to work hard to express my creative side, artistically and academically, give it everything I have even when I am involved in way too many organizations and extracurricular activities, and do all that I can to be the best at what I love.
In high school I always played with the idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I knew that I wanted to make my parents proud, but I also knew that money was not a factor for what major I chose. I always thought I wanted to go into the medical field simply because I have a heart for helping people. However as soon as I started classes at Southeastern Louisiana during my first semester of college I knew that it was not for me. I quickly learned that in order to be successful at my job, I must love my job.
Transferring to LSU and changing my major to education was one of the hardest, but smartest decisions I think I have ever made (for me) academically with the help of this woman. I probably should have picked up on it when I was in high school, but because of one sweet little boy and her devotion to the classroom, I now realize that I have a passion for teaching in the same ways that they have taught me. I cannot wait to make an impact on a student’s life in similar ways that she has impacted mine.
It has been such a blessing to have this diva in my life and I am so thankful the Lord saw fit for us to walk the road of love, laughter, and faith together through past years. I love you, MC. :)
And so you can start thinking & writing about the next conversation piece, here's the question for next week for you to ponder .
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION:
What would you regret not fully doing, being, or having in your life?
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