Her Story
About Amy
I started my career in education when I was young, teaching for 32 years as a public school teacher. I began in the inner-city schools of Houston, Texas, in the 4th Ward, where I taught for my first four years - an experience that really shaped who I am today. I believe every teacher should teach in a low-income, hard school district just to shape them into who they can become, and it helped me be a better person. After that, I moved back home to Missouri and taught in Blue Springs. I taught first grade, second grade, third and fourth grade together over the years. When COVID hit, teaching became different, and I decided to retire in 2021. I got remarried and moved to St. Louis in 2022. After being retired for a year, I realized it was too soon, so I went back to work. Now I work full-time as an administrative assistant and concierge manager at a senior living community, where I get to use my doctorate in administrative leadership to guide other employees and help them get through things they need to get through. On the side, I run my own business called Pink Evergreens, where I bake sourdough bread - that's my signature - and I also make natural candles and natural body butters. I bake all day Friday and Saturday, and people come to my house on Sundays to pick up their orders. I'm very proud of this little business I've started.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I'm very optimistic, and I do not... I am not a negative person. When I was a schoolteacher, and there was negativity going on in the teacher lunchroom, I decided to start eating in my classroom by myself, because I didn't want to be around that negativity. I attribute my success to being optimistic and always striving for something better, and thinking that there's other things out there in this world that are worse, so I try to look on the bright side of everything. It's just being positive and not being so negative.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Growing up with my mom and dad, my dad just... everything was be 10 minutes early, wherever you go. It was just always do your best. And don't worry about what happened, if it was something that bad happened, just move on from there, and don't let it happen again. But to always do your best, and that's all that anybody can ask for.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Always have to stay positive. There's a lot of negative out there in this world, so stay positive and true to yourself. Always share what you believe in, what you want to do with whatever it is that you're working with. One of my biggest mottos is take ownership in what you do. It's not just a job. You need to take ownership in your job, in whatever it is that you're doing. It's not just a job, it's your livelihood. And if it begins to be a chore at what you're doing, maybe you need to move on.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge right now is honestly my age. I'm gonna be turning another year older in a few days, and my age is my challenge. I'm tired. I love my job so much, but eventually, I'm gonna have to stop. As far as teaching goes, there's a lot of challenges in general in teaching. It's just really hard. Teaching isn't like what it used to be back in the day, and lots of different behaviors are popping up. I feel COVID had a lot to do with that. I think technology is a big factor - kids are not getting the FaceTime that they need, the real FaceTime with family, with friends, with community. Back when we didn't have all this computer stuff, we were outside playing all day, and now they're stuck either playing video games or whatever. Overall, just finding anybody to work is hard. It's hard to find people able to work. They just don't want to work.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and integrity are most important to me. Like I said before, taking ownership in whatever it is you're doing with your life. Just being honest, and having integrity, and morally doing the right thing. Morally do the right thing.
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