What inspired me to achieve.

 Why am I running for re-election ?
       This question can be answered by telling you why I first ran and what inspired me many years ago when I was in school. I have always loved music. I cannot play an instrument , but I tell myself I can sing. Songs always influence a mood or bring back memories. There are many times I wish there was background music playing when big events happen in my life. Hearing a few cords from the theme song for Jaws[1] would have saved me many times when I was near trouble. One of the very first songs that left a footprint on my heart was “I Don’t Like Mondays” by the Boomtown Rats. The song is about a young girl that goes on a shooting spree in a playground. Both children and adults were injured and killed. When she was asked by reporters “ tell me why?” her answer was “ because I don’t like Mondays” I remember reading the article by Sir Bob Geldof the singer of the band, giving the reasons for why he wrote the song. He said “ It was the perfect senseless act and this was the perfect senseless reason for doing it. So perhaps I wrote the perfect senseless song to illustrate it. It wasn't an attempt to exploit tragedy.”[2] I could not stop thinking about “tell me why?” It just didn't make sense to me. Yes it was senseless. I needed to know more. I needed to help but I was just a kid. A kid just like those who were injured. A kid just like the shooter. But we didn't talk about the tragedy in school and world news was very hard to access back in the day, so it was something I just kept in my heart. 
      Later Sir Bob Geldof organizes Live Aid to raise funds and awareness for the famine in Ethiopia .Once again through his gift of music this man is telling the world of a problem and inspiring people to help.Again I wanted to help. But how ? I was a young woman still just trying to find herself . Years pass and I become a wife and mom with three kids. The days were full of carpools , class activities, play dates, baking cookies and so on. My mind was more on making it through to the next day with my sanity than anything else most days. Then April of 1999 comes and the world was in shock and tears over the school shootings in Columbine. I had three kids under 5 at the time and all I could think of was “ tell me why?” Once again I wanted to do something . The song lyric, “the lesson today is how to die”[3] kept running through my head. That is a lesson no child or parent should ever have to learn. The passion in me to be in a position where I could make a difference was stronger than ever before. I have always had an interest in politics and governance. So after doing some research and having encouragement from friends and family I decided to run for Trustee.
         I am inspired by people who do what they do with what they have for unselfish reasons. Reasons like it is just the right thing to do. I believe you need a big heart more than big bank account to be successful . Schools are more than just a place to learn. They are a community, and we need to inspire that community and help them carry the torch for the next generation of responsible citizens. One of the key messages from former trouble maker and motivational speaker Josh Shipp is that every teenager is one caring adult away from being a success. [4]This is something we all can do. I was told this summer by a student that I was his one adult that help him towards his success. I have never felt so humble or inspired in all my life. I have seen many changes in society and the economy. As it states in the Education Act Regulatory Review, I believe that” I adapt to change with an attitude of optimism and hope for the future. As a lifelong learner, I believe there is no limit to what knowledge may be gleaned, what skills may be accumulated, and what may be achieved in cooperation with others. And always, I keep growing and learning[5] 

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCI-gNK_y4
 [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Don't_Like_Mondays
[3] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6I9qVsXnSQ
 [4] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8jWUSaz4m4
[5] http://ideas.education.alberta.ca/media/80375/regreviewinspiringeducationcontext.pdf