Dear Friend,
Kevin Spacey once said, “If you’re lucky enough to do well, it’s your responsibility to send the elevator back down.” Last April, I received an email from a brand new military spouse. She explained her primary goal was to find “fulfilling work” in her husband’s new duty station. She asked about my professional experience, and my tricks for finding jobs in each location. As I read her email, the Spacey quote came bubbling up in my mind. I thought about my tricks of the trade, and I realized there have been many moments in my career when I was “lucky enough to do well” as a military spouse professional. I have worked in a half dozen schools, I have taught hundreds of students, I have coached teenagers, and trained moms, and I have completed my life long goal of receiving a doctorate- I know, lots of other people dream about playing in the NBA- but for me it was a dream come true. The Other Side of Service has been an opportunity to send the elevator down for bright, talented spouses, at least that is how I conceptualized it at the beginning.
What I quickly realized by working with other spouses is I have more to learn than I have to teach. The spouses I’ve met through OSS so far are incredible. They are smart and savvy. They see the world in different and interesting ways, and they are only the tip of the iceberg. We are in a totally new era. Technology is the key to so many opportunities for military spouse professionals. The number of new apps, programs, and systems available online is mind-blogging, and it is only with the help of other spouses that I am learning new tricks. How lucky I am they are willing to send the elevator back up!
Our theme of the month, Giving Back, stems from the premise that one spouse’s professional experience can help another, and our featured spouses are a testament to this ideal. These two remarkable individuals have given back to our military spouses community in unique and invaluable ways.
Jeremy Hilton, an Air Force spouse, and a legislative and public policy advocate, has worked diligently to improve medical and social services for military families with special needs children. Danielle Caceres, a Marine spouse and renowned portrait photographer, has not only given families beautiful pictures but she has helped a number of other military spouses start successful photography businesses. After receiving help early in her career, she is paying it forward and currently mentors three photographers in the Hampton Roads area.
This month we will share the story of these generous spouses. Please look for their videos and blogs throughout the month. We are also featuring a guest blog by Stephanie Blind, a Navy spouse, and music educator. She has written a beautiful and thought-provoking piece on developing empathy among military spouses.
As you watch, listen, and read these stories throughout June, think about how you can send the elevator back down; how you can share what you’ve learned with other spouses, and how the success of one military spouse is good for all of us!
Warmly,
Lynn Waidelich
