Women's Council Luncheon celebrates the Future of Women in the Ann Arbor Area May 13th 2008
The Women’s Council raises funds to secure the future of women at Washtenaw
Community College. The proceeds from this year’s luncheon go the Women’s
Council endowed scholarship at Washtenaw Community College and to sustain
the Women’s Resource and Student Center, which offers support in a holistic
manner for students who need extra assistance.
Included here is an inspiring speech presented by Amanda Klain, Scholarship
Recipient
Speech for the Women’s Council Luncheon
Although I hold a Bachelors Degree from WMU that I received in 1991, until three years ago when I first began my education at WCC I was still trying to find some type of meaningful focus in my life.
For me the past fifteen years have been a non-academic exploration of the relationship between human health and our environment, and how physical, mental, spiritual and emotional healing can take place through the acknowledgement and heartfelt application of that interdependence.
From 2003-2005 I worked at a health center here in Ann Arbor that combines allopathic medicine with alternative treatments. Inspired by the doctors, nurses and therapists that I worked with I decided to pursue my nursing career and enrolled in WCC for fall 2005, and I took classes every semester until Spring/Summer 2007 when I realized it was ok to take a semester off!
Every time I walked through the Student Center I was magnetically drawn to the Women’s Resource Center and I soon made an appointment with a counselor (Liz Orbitz) who provided me with much needed academic counseling as well as information on all the different financial aid options. For me the Women’s Resource Center is the place that really brought together my experience of getting back into the academic world. Whenever I hear classmates talking about the struggles of juggling life, work and school and lack of support in that struggle, I always start rattling off to them about the Women’s Resource Center and all the services that WCC offers and what doors opened for me when I reached out for support.
I have received three Foundation Scholarships which I am extremely grateful for. It is such an incredible gift to have financial burdens lifted off the shoulders of people like me that for whatever reason are not financially able to comfortably pay for the education that they seek.
There is also a less tangible support that runs somewhat deeper in meaning and more heartfelt than money can ever be. For me receiving these scholarships is another way of someone saying "I believe in you and your dreams and I trust you to do your best in making them come true". There is nothing than a little outside pressure and accountability to keep you on track! I pursue my nursing career with all of you in mind and with gratitude.
I want to thank everyone for listening. It is very inspiring to be surrounded with role models and to share in the diversity of our own personal stories of the journey into empowerment through and by the support of each other. Thank you!
I was thrilled to be a part of this worthwhile cause. Amanda’s gratitude
was heartfelt and made all attendees proud to part of such a worthwhile
cause.
Kathy Toth and Team
www.KathyToth.com
Keller Williams Realty
Listen to this post 
