Today, for the "Women's History Month" celebration, I would like to introduce this fantastic woman
Meet Tina Nightingale, 44, wife, mom of 2 children and 4 furry babies, an awesome school counselor
"Don’t let anyone dull your SPARKLE!"
I am a small town French Canadian girl who spent most of my childhood growing up playing barbies, farm animals, cars, and army people with my brother while my mom read a great romance novel or sewed outfits. Evenings as a teen were spent driving up and down Main street and hanging out with friends while neighbors spied on us to give our parents updates about our alleged misbehaviors. I grew up with parents who valued the importance of hard and honest work while embracing the importance of self-reliance and confidence. From a very young age, my parents instilled the importance of spirituality and a belief in a guiding power for our lives. My fondest memories are of Sunday dinners with extended families, traveling with my grandmother and snowmobiling with my grandfather. Dirtbikes, mud, and grass stains while wearing a tutu and rubber boots describes the perfect picture of my entire childhood and teen years.
French is my first language and with limited exposure to the English language, I attended the University of Maine and earned a Bachelors in Elementary Education. I worked my way through learning a second language while earning a degree that would later lead to a Masters degree in Counseling. My years spent in education supporting families and providing outpatient therapy demonstrates my devotion for helping others find their way back from dark times. I have no shame in the fact that I am not immuned from needing to find light in my darkest hours. Deciding that our hardest moments are simply small chapters in our book is key to finding hope and sunshine after the rain. Life has an interesting way of showing us exactly where we should be and who we should become. After the opportunity to teach graduate level courses at the University of Southern Maine in the Counselor Education program, I’ve discovered my passion for higher education, advocacy, supervision, and advanced research in the field of counseling. I am currently enrolled in a Doctoral program that will lead to a doctorate degree in Counselor Education and Supervision.
My husband, daughter 12, son 15, and I live in a small Saco neighborhood with our dog and three cats. Over the years, we made connections with amazing people and feel so fortunate to be part of such a close knit community. As a family, we enjoy long carpools to hockey games, cheering competitions, horseback riding lessons, skiing trips, and many more activities that keep our lives full and busy. We also love to travel and pride ourselves with visiting areas that can teach us and our children about the great wonders of this world. Many of us spend most of our lives dreaming and waiting for the “right time” to create memorable moments. This world has an abundance to give and a delay in claiming its gifts seems wasteful. Covid has taken so much from us - expecting people to die alone and separating families when we needed each other the most. Embracing what is in front of us and never delaying possibilities that feed the soul is a motto I live by without any indignity.
The best advice I have for women - at no time be afraid to be yourself, on no account allow others to shame your assertiveness, and remind naysayers that you do not worry about weathering storms since “YOU ARE THE STORM.
Another one of Tina's favorite quotes:
"People want what they want, Sometimes ye ou just have to WALK IN DEFIANCE and JUST BE YOURSELF."
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Thank you, Tina, for sharing your story and empowering others!
#womenshistorymonth #womansupportingwomen #womanpower #mainephotographer
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