Debra Well

I attribute my success to the elders of my family. They were very kind, very giving, and very charitable. They were always taking me to different Christmas parties, and they would give Christmas gifts to other children. They taught me the act of service and how to be very active and noble toward others. Growing up with their example of generosity and service shaped who I am today and how I approach my work with children.

I was told to continue on my path of enlightenment and to continue to be structured. The advice that really stuck with me was to continue to be kind and full of empathy. Continue on that path of being kind and empathetic. This guidance has shaped how I approach my work with children with special needs, reminding me that structure combined with kindness and empathy is the foundation of effective teaching and coaching.

I would definitely suggest always holding an inclusive mindset. Accept everyone. Accept all cultures and their cultural identity and their cultural differences, the richness of their cultures. Have an inclusive mindset and be accepting of all cultures. Most importantly, be a forever learner. Be a forever learner. Do not think that you know it all. Always be ready to learn and learn some more. When you're a forever learner and you're around different cultures, you learn what's offensive and what's acceptable or unacceptable. You gain first-hand knowledge, not just reading from a book.

The opportunities in my field are incredible. You can be a traveling coach and connect with different organizations that can have you go to different cities or states and speak on behalf of their companies. You can get affiliated or become connected with a variety of companies, and they can sponsor you and pay for you to coach someone or to speak about coaching. You could get paid to become a host, speaker, or orator, and definitely meet people of all dynamics of life, all ranges of life. That's how you become a forever learner with first-hand knowledge. As for challenges, dealing with the public is never easy. You have to sway your audience and prove that you are who you say you are because so many other institutions have failed them. You have to stand firm and convey the realities about yourself and become influential. That takes time for people to see who you are in your truest light and to invest in you. Being consistent and always having supporting details ready is what's challenging, because it takes time to become someone they can trust and rely upon.

Being just and being fair are the most important values to me. Having an inclusive mindset is essential because that allows me to be just and fair, to receive people in their truest nature, in their natural state of being. When you have an inclusive mindset, you can see people as they are. You can receive them in their natural state. This approach guides everything I do, both in my work with children with special needs and in my personal life.