Today, for the "Women's History Month" celebration, I would like to introduce this fabulous woman
Meet Janelle Harrison, 40, wife, daughter, sister, a music lover, and a great teacher
“Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” -William Cowper
I was born and grew up outside Concord, NH in a small town called Hopkinton. When I was 13, my family moved to Maine. Since then, I have lived in various places around southern Maine. I currently live and work in Saco.
After making the move to Maine, I graduated from Bonny Eagle High School in 2000. I went on to study Elementary Education at the University of Hartford in CT for one year. I transferred to Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, ME and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. I am currently continuing my studies and working toward my Master’s Degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment with a concentration in Teacher Leadership. I am studying through the University of Maine Online.
For the past 13 years I have been a first grade teacher. Recently I have spent my summer months facilitating professional development sessions for the education curriculum company Great Minds. I worked virtually via Zoom with educators across the country, supporting teachers as they implemented Great Minds’ curriculum Eureka Math. This also happens to be the math curriculum I teach in my own classroom.
An ongoing personal challenge has been dealing with my weight and body size. I have been overweight my whole life, and have tried numerous diets and programs to lose the extra weight since I was in high school. I have struggled with self-esteem and self-confidence for my whole life and this has shaped who I am today. I often felt I wasn’t good enough or working hard enough to see the results I wanted.
I became such an avid over-exerciser at one point I was doing an hour-long high-intensity aerobics class, then running five miles around town before going to work and sometimes returning to the gym to lift weights after work. My all or nothing thinking trapped me and I eventually suffered a severe injury in 2014 when I fell from a rope-assisted wall climb and fractured my ankle. I had to do over a year of physical therapy to retrain my body how to walk properly. It was a painful and clear message that my lifestyle was not sustainable for the long term and something had to change. My ankle is still not the same as it was before my injury and I have had to accept I cannot exercise the way I used to.
It has taken me years to reframe my thinking and change the tape that plays negative self-talk in my head. Now I can say I have accepted who I am and I work to take care of the body I have. I work to take care of my mind and live a healthy sustainable lifestyle. The negative thoughts still creep in, but I know now they do not define who I am, what I have accomplished, what I have learned, and what I am capable of.
Another ongoing challenge is within my family. My Dad was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia about seven years ago when he was 61. We eventually got him into a wonderful nursing home and he has incredible care there. It is so hard to watch him, the man I knew and loved, so young and declining so quickly. In a handful of years he has become wheelchair-bound and unable to speak, more like an 88 year old rather than a 68 year old man. The last time I remember hearing him say my name was sometime in 2017.
I could not have made it through some of the most challenging times in this process without my family. My brothers and my sister took over legal powers to ensure my Dad’s finances and medical care are handled well and take some of the burden off of Mom. My mom visits him every weekend. I am geographically close enough to visit him in a day (he is only a couple hours away in New Hampshire) and Mom accompanies me whenever I go to the nursing home. I try to visit at least once a month, and I could not do those visits without her. It’s so hard to see him like that, knowing the charismatic, charming, successful salesman and people-person he used to be. I could not face those visits alone and I am so thankful to have such supportive family with me through this challenging time.
My first life achievement would have to be my career. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and after five years of working to prove myself, was hired as a teacher in my own classroom. I knew from when I was little I would be a teacher when I grew up, and I achieved that in 2009.
The same year I realized my goal of becoming a teacher, I married my best friend Chris on October 11, 2009. 13 years later we have overcome so much together and our relationship is even stronger for it. I am grateful everyday I have him by my side.
I have achieved physical feats I could never have imagined. I have completed three half-marathons (13.1 miles) and a handful of 5K races (3.1 miles). I have also completed a couple obstacle course races including a Tough Mudder, an intense 10+ mile-long course that ran up and down Mount Snow in Vermont with obstacles designed to have you face and overcome fears such as heights, darkness, water, electricity, and fire.
I am so passionate and excited about designing curriculum and instruction to meet all of the diverse needs in a classroom, an integrated curriculum that works for the students, the teachers, and meets the standards.
I love trying new recipes, cooking and preparing food for a balanced healthy lifestyle. To be clear, I cook, I do not bake. Baked goods never turn out the way I expect!
I am passionate about music and particularly singing. I have been singing in my church choir since 2009 and it is something that I enjoy that feeds my soul.
For many years, all throughout high school and college, I was passionate about acting and theater (I actually met my husband onstage at an audition at Bonny Eagle High School!). I miss participating in shows, but after playing a role in Pirates of Penzance and finishing out a school year at the same time, I realized I cannot do both. An elementary teacher’s schedule does not allow for the time commitment that a show requires. Now I put all of those skills I learned onstage into practice when I teach my first graders!
Finally I am passionate about reading and writing. I love language and the feeling when I find just the right word to convey my meaning. Whether it is a formal presentation, a lesson in my classroom, or some private writing in a journal, I have always been fascinated by language. I have loved reading and been an avid reader my entire life, not only reading for pleasure but to expand my own knowledge and understanding as well. I relish the opportunity to continue developing my skills in reading, speaking, and writing through my graduate studies and my work as a teacher.
Above everything else, I value family and friends. Relationships with people offer so much enrichment to life! I value people that ground me, support me, and offer unconditional love, and I work hard to give all of that in return. Everyone needs that kind of support and there are so many things you just cannot do alone.
Advice for other women:
Push yourself beyond what is comfortable. Trust that you are capable of anything and worthy to achieve anything. It may not be easy and it will take hard work, but you can do whatever you want and you are worth it, so go after it! Along the way, remember to be kind. Forge relationships, care for other people and be your genuine self. Those people will be there to support you and help you get where you want to go and you may not be able to go it alone.
Here are another one of Janelle's favorite quotes:
“When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take the first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly.” - Patrick Overton
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Thank you, Janelle, for sharing your story and empowering others!
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#womenshistorymonth #womansupportingwomen #womanpower #mainephotographer
3 Comments
Apr 9, 2023, 5:01:47 PM
Aunt Linda - I just saw this beautiful article!!! How lovely! Your pics are gorgeous and the article really describes who you are and and what you have accomplished both professionally and personally. You are a special, delightful person and an integral part of our family. I am very proud of you and love you to pieces!! ❤️😘🤗
Mar 12, 2023, 11:05:42 PM
Deb Christian - Your story is beautiful, brave, and inspiring. The photos and words reflect your beauty inside and out. Continued blessings to you ❤️
Mar 12, 2023, 11:03:55 AM
Bar-two - Strong, smart and such a big heart. Your love and compassion shines through and your smile lights up a room. So proud to be your brother!