I have recently retired from a 28-year teaching career and am now the manager at The Bird and Pear, a shop in La Villita in downtown San Antonio. I enjoy talking to the tourists and sharing my love of our beautiful city with them. This has deepened my interest in San Antonio and its history, leading me to become a Certified Tourism Ambassador. My other interests include reading, attending musical theatre productions, and entertaining cats. I am married and have two twenty-something sons of whom I am very proud. I have been a member of The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. since 1995. Through my service in JLSA, I have developed new skills, friendships, community awareness, and self-confidence.
1) Why have you decided to serve as a Trailblazer for the JLSA?
When I was asked to serve as a Trailblazer, I agreed without hesitation because I want to be able to give back to the organization that has had such a lasting impact on my life. The day that I learned about this opportunity was a day on which I also learned of the death of a former student. As with the death of any young person, I felt grief for his family and friends. Throughout the day I had been thinking about this student and how his involvement with illegal behaviors cost him his life. It caused me to question how he had slipped through the system without intervention. When I heard that the funds raised are designated to help children with mental health issues, I felt serendipity in action. I have always felt that providing children with appropriate support, guidance, and intervention, as well as critical education building blocks is the way to build a better community. I am grateful to the JLSA for providing me with the occasion to help raise funds for their project with Clarity Child Guidance Center, which provides children with programs to improve their mental health and their lives.