Wednesday night was Inauguration night, but it was also our monthly School Board Meeting. I will watch the televised festivities after the fact on YouTube, and that’s good enough. I can’t think of a better way to honor a new and more hopeful time for me and for many than by serving my community.
I was inordinately pleased to get an email Wednesday afternoon from one of our superintendents reminding us to wear our pearls to the meeting, in celebration of our first woman Vice President. Not political one way or another, just supportive and celebratory.
This morning as I put the pearls away, I recalled November 10, 2016. I was at a Veteran’s Day Assembly at my son’s middle school. We’ve always been involved in scouting, so my son was part of the Boy Scout Honor Guard and Flag Ceremony for the assembly. In addition, he was in the band and the choir performing that morning, and the school always does a beautiful job with the assembly. My Father-In-Law is a Marine, he is often in attendance. I attend every year.
There was a shadow over that week, though, for me and for many. It was emotional, ugly, worrisome, angry. I had woken up the day before to the stomach-turning news that a person I disbelieved could lead our country well had been elected.
As I chatted with friends, parents and teachers at the breakfast that morning, I was asked – again – by an administrator turned friend if I would consider running for School Board in the upcoming elections. I told him I had to think about it and talk to my family, but I would consider it. Walking with my friends down to the gym, one asked “Did what I think just happen just happen?” Yes, yes it did.
Later that afternoon, I was driving my then 16-year-old to an appointment and I mentioned what had transpired. This was not news to him that I had been asked to serve in this capacity. Starting with Scouting and rising to Cubmaster, PTA and events at the elementary schools to volunteering with the music program at the middle school to helping establish an Educational Foundation for our school district, I have a passion to serve the children of our community. My 16-year-old so wisely asked me three questions:
“What would change?” Meaning how would my time spent in service impact our lives.
“What Good would you be able to do?” And that is what cemented the deal for me.
The third was “What did Dad say when you told him?” Oh, my husband is a saint. Then and now.
4 years ago, I decided to light a candle instead of cursing the darkness. I could have ducked down and given up. I chose to be part of the solution. I chose to become even more involved and ran for public office. That sounds far grander than it actually was, we ran uncontested that year. But the choice was made, the call was answered.
I’ve learned a lot in the years since. I have learned just how much work our public officials do, in front of and behind the scenes. I have met fellow school board members from all over my state and recognized the breadth and depth of different challenges we face. I truly believe that most folks in service roles such as these are absolutely just trying to make their communities better places.
I am brought back to the present. I am running again for election April, again uncontested. And I run for the same reasons as 4 years ago: to serve, to be a part of the good work we are doing here, to be the change I want to see in others.
But I also run because I understand even more now the importance of individuals getting involved in their community. Perhaps to make changes, but also perhaps to simply support and expand the good things already in place. And if I can encourage you to get involved, just one of you, to step up in your own community, please let me. It might not be easy work and it’s not always pretty, but it is Good.
I believe we don’t get to complain if we don’t also have suggestions and willingness to make things better.
There is brilliant and cold sunshine this morning. The tears in my eyes aren’t just from the cold, though. They are hopeful tears. I wore my pearls last night to celebrate our first woman Vice President. The chills that went up my spine with the introductions, “Madam Vice President”, “Dr. Biden”, well – I won’t try to express that quiet thrill. But I think I want to continue to wear them at future board meetings. As a tangible reminder to serve others and to better our communities, as a woman, certainly, but at most, as a human being.