I am Cheryl (just me, all me) “I still believe that our best teaching occurs when we live first as authentic human beings…”- Dale Weiss

I Love, I Feel, I Value, I Honor LIFE

Identity Reflections I am from the outdoors The smell of horses in the air Ocean breeze in my hair Baseball games and soda pop Skateboards and fences, I was on top I am from my family Sisters three are friends and foes Father and mother together no more Two houses to be and no place for me So many schools that I never feel free I am from the “say it aint so” Shauna, Cyndi, Cheryl were we “In your eyes” (point at our eyes with silly grins) “Because I said” (that was back then) Run down the hall, they are home and the house is not clean I am from every memory in my heart Pictures of camping Images of pets Knick knacks portray each passage of an age “Things don’t just disappear”

I am woman, hear me roar! This thought was the first that crossed my mind when I read this assignment prompt. Throughout my life, I have pushed and worked to be seen and heard. I was always well aware of the “isms” that held me back. One recollection was during my little league era. I played softball with two older sisters. We were pretty good and very athletic; however, at the time there was no advancement for girls. My sister was actually the first girl allowed on the Pony league. It was a Jr. High age league for boys. It was a huge step for her to earn a spot. We moved by the next year and I tried out for a baseball league. My dad sat in the bleachers as a proud papa. I was chosen in the top ten players. Another dad started complaining about the girl getting a spot over boys. My dad turned and said to him, “That’s my girl… and she will out shoot, ride, throw, run or whatever your boy!” Wow, was I proud to know that my dad believed in me. Sadly, it was not long after that the natural ability in my strength and athleticism was unable to keep up with the maturing boys. There are some things in life that are just the way they are. I remained athletic even to this day, but boys did grow stronger than girls. I believe it is God’s natural design. We girls have our advantages too though. I have been blessed with a very colorful career journey. I have worked in the early childhood field, veterinary field and fire investigation. I have heard and seen many things that have tried to define what women can or are able to do. I was lucky to be bold and had a dad that taught me how to really stand up for myself and to try hard at everything. As a fire investigator, I handled a K-9 on fire scenes. It was an amazingly fun time. I was always surrounded by men. The most shocking was the time I was invited to an informal meeting over lunch. We ended up at a restaurant that was a regular place for the guys. To my surprise there were women modeling lingerie. I was blown away that these men (most married and on the job) were goggling women. I remember looking at the men across the table and telling them… “You do realize that I have those too… and honestly it is only okay to have this meeting here if there are male models too”. The men got so uncomfortable and some laughed it off. Needless to say the meeting was very quick. I enjoyed watching them squirm. It gave me back a little of the power. Needless to say every time that I needed to work with any of the men, I was treated with much more respect. I shared these examples to show that being a woman means having to know that you are worth all the effort. A woman must stand up for herself and other women. Often being a woman means feeling like an inner siren while externally feeling frozen and unseen. A woman must be willing to own her inner siren and share herself with other women. Women must mentor younger women and teach them to embrace their femininity. We are all desire, waiting for fulfillment; and we need to be fulfilling our own desires. That is what it means to be a woman.

What it means to be A woman I am woman, hear me roar! This thought was the first that crossed my mind when I read this assignment prompt. Throughout my life, I have pushed and worked to be seen and heard. I was always well aware of the “isms” that held me back. One recollection was during my little league era. I played softball with two older sisters. We were pretty good and very athletic; however, at the time there was no advancement for girls. My sister was actually the first girl allowed on the Pony league. It was a Jr. High age league for boys. It was a huge step for her to earn a spot. We moved by the next year and I tried out for a baseball league. My dad sat in the bleachers as a proud papa. I was chosen in the top ten players. Another dad started complaining about the girl getting a spot over boys. My dad turned and said to him, “That’s my girl… and she will out shoot, ride, throw, run or whatever your boy!” Wow, was I proud to know that my dad believed in me. Sadly, it was not long after that the natural ability in my strength and athleticism was unable to keep up with the maturing boys. There are some things in life that are just the way they are. I remained athletic even to this day, but boys did grow stronger than girls. I believe it is God’s natural design. We girls have our advantages too though. I have been blessed with a very colorful career journey. I have worked in the early childhood field, veterinary field and fire investigation. I have heard and seen many things that have tried to define what women can or are able to do. I was lucky to be bold and had a dad that taught me how to really stand up for myself and to try hard at everything. As a fire investigator, I handled a K-9 on fire scenes. It was an amazingly fun time. I was always surrounded by men. The most shocking was the time I was invited to an informal meeting over lunch. We ended up at a restaurant that was a regular place for the guys. To my surprise there were women modeling lingerie. I was blown away that these men (most married and on the job) were goggling women. I remember looking at the men across the table and telling them… “You do realize that I have those too… and honestly it is only okay to have this meeting here if there are male models too”. The men got so uncomfortable and some laughed it off. Needless to say the meeting was very quick. I enjoyed watching them squirm. It gave me back a little of the power. Needless to say every time that I needed to work with any of the men, I was treated with much more respect. I shared these examples to show that being a woman means having to know that you are worth all the effort. A woman must stand up for herself and other women. Often being a woman means feeling like an inner siren while externally feeling frozen and unseen. A woman must be willing to own her inner siren and share herself with other women. Women must mentor younger women and teach them to embrace their femininity. We are all desire, waiting for fulfillment; and we need to be fulfilling our own desires. That is what it means to be a woman. What it means to be A woman

Generations of Blessings “A family is … having each other’s backs, giving, sharing, loving, arguing, remembering, and the mortar that holds the bricks of life together”.

Socioeconomic status “My worth cannot be measured by my income.” I am strong, independent, friendly, outgoing, loving, compassionate, curious, faithful, fun, joyful, nurturing and all around helpful. My boyfriend says that I am “pretty, smart, caring, family oriented, giving, good friend, friend of animals and children, hard worker …. That’s pretty good”

I AM ABLE Cannot is only a lie Can is my mindset I CAN I CAN’T Go to work Sit around alone Drive my car Ignore injustice Maintain my home Rely on another to do My work Help others Watch someone in need Not receive help Walk/run/climb/hike Work well on computer Ride and work with horses Stand/sit for a long time Garden and do yard work Be yelled at Love , care, nurture Work with my hands above My shoulders for very long Teach, guide, model Can is my mindset