I feel incredibly fortunate to have been surrounded by truly remarkable adults at a very young and influential age. Long before I understood leadership, service, or responsibility, I was watching it lived out every day.
A lot of people say their mother is a saint. I know mine is. I have never met a more humble, hardworking, patient, honest, God-loving woman. My mother began her college education at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL, and later transferred her credits to Columbia College in Columbia, MO, where she earned her associate’s degree while working full-time. While balancing work and school, she volunteered in the athletic department, trading typing support for swimming lessons for my sister and me. It was never about convenience, it was about commitment.
She volunteered at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Independence, MO, got six kids through private Catholic school, fed an open-door parade of friends who always seemed to be at our house, and somehow still managed to give us a childhood full of memories, curiosity, and a love of learning. She taught us that education matters, effort matters, and that work done with integrity is never wasted.
My stepfather brought a different, but equally important, influence into my life. He was the driving force behind my sense of discipline, my competitive nature, and yes, my ability to argue (said with love and a smile). He served in the United States Army from 1980 to 1984 as a Legal Clerk, completing basic training at Fort Knox, KY, and advanced training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. His service took him to Berlin, Germany, where he served as Battalion Legal Clerk for the 3rd Battalion, 6th Infantry, and later to Redstone Arsenal, AL, where he served as Brigade Legal Clerk for the School Brigade.
After active duty, he continued serving in the 8th U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General unit in Independence, MO, before attending the police academy. He served five years as a patrol officer with the Independence, Missouri Police Department, then went on to a 31.5-year career as a Special Agent with Norfolk Southern Railroad, retiring after decades of service. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology, graduating summa cum laude. From him, I learned structure, accountability, and the importance of doing things the right way, even when no one is watching.
My father was charismatic in a way that’s hard to explain. He could command a room without saying a word, though you’d be hard-pressed to find him silent. That river runs deep in my veins. He was a registered nurse trained in Houston, TX, a master colorist in high-end salons in Houston and Boca Raton, FL, a lifeguard, possibly even on Galveston’s own beaches, and a member of Unity of Delray Beach, FL. Service flowed naturally from him.
Later, he became a medical auditor, traveling from California to New York to ensure medical care was appropriate, standards were met, and billing was accurate and compliant. For him, it wasn’t just a job, it was about fairness and making sure people were cared for properly.
Service ran throughout my family, not as a talking point, but as a way of life. It was woven into everyday conversations, dinner table stories, and the quiet pride that came from doing necessary work without expecting recognition.
My uncle served as a paramedic, a fire captain, and an arson investigator. As a child, I didn’t fully grasp the weight of those roles, but I understood this much: when something went wrong, he was one of the people others depended on. His work was about showing up in moments of crisis, staying calm under pressure, and putting others first when it mattered most. Watching that kind of responsibility up close taught me that service often means stepping in when situations are difficult, uncomfortable, or emotionally heavy, because someone has to.
My grandfather was a postman. It’s a role that might seem simple on the surface, but to a child, it represented reliability and trust. He walked the same routes, day after day, rain or shine. People counted on him, not just for mail, but for consistency. From him, I learned that service isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s about being steady, dependable, and present, even when no one is applauding. My grandmother served the U.S. Army Aviation Support Command for 35 years. Her career represented long-term commitment, loyalty, and public service at a scale I came to appreciate more as I grew older. She showed me that serving your country or community doesn’t always mean being on the front lines, it also means ensuring systems function, people are supported, and missions are carried out responsibly over decades.
As a child, absorbing these examples shaped how I viewed responsibility and contribution. I learned that work has meaning beyond a paycheck. That integrity matters. That showing up consistently, especially when no one is watching, is its own form of leadership. Service became something I expected of myself, not because it was demanded, but because it was modeled. Those lessons didn’t fade with age, they became part of how I move through the world, how I treat others, and how I understand my responsibility to the community I call home.
Next time I’ll share about learning the difference between talking and listening.