Misty Rae McDougall

Leadership has always been built into me - it's really all I know. Being the oldest of 16 kids (all my dad's, from 4 different women), I was thrown into a leadership role at a very young age. Sometimes it makes life a little difficult, especially as a woman, but it's just what comes naturally to me. I don't need a textbook or anything - it just comes naturally. I believe that I'm very good at it. I was born and raised on the Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota, and my dad raised me up there. I never knew my mom's side - she's never been a part of my life. My whole family is still up there on the reservation, and I'm down here in Des Moines, just giving it my all and trying to make my dad and my family proud. I'm the only one of my siblings who is fortunate enough to have a college degree. A lot of my family doesn't have that opportunity - they could, but it's where they're at. It gets lonely being just me down here, and my family is a lot poorer than I am, so when it comes to help or financial help, that's not a question. It definitely is a struggle, but I think the struggle and the challenge is really what keeps me going.