My Leadership Family

"I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people."

-Mahatma Gandhi  

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To have a group of genuine and caring people in one classroom is a very rare thing.  I am lucky enough to be apart of the Treasure Mountain Junior High Leadership Class which is full of thirty amazing individuals.  Without this class, I would not have built some of the friendships I have now.  AND I wouldn't be as confident in my abilities as a leader.  I used to be unknown to the student body, quiet, weird, awkward, and unimportant.  Because of this class, I have come out of my shell and shown my peers who I am and what I have to offer.  

Some of the incredible people in my class include: Emma Burke, Samantha Bush, Ben Butcher, Marta Myshrall, Matt Whipple, Micaela Berglund, Emma Louden, Leah Anderson, Lauren MacRitchie, Lane Radovan, Evie Edwards, Elaine Prom and SOOOOO many more.  I am so thankful for the relationships I have built, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. 

(L to R) Claire, Marta, and Elaine at the Utah Allies Dinner
Photo Courtesy of Claire

(L to R) Marta, Emma, Claire, and Samantha at TMJH Registration
Photo Courtesy of Claire

From leadership, I have learned to never doubt myself.  Failure follows self doubt, and I have learned that the most important thing is to love yourself.  By telling myself things will work out, they (almost) always do. I have also gained the ability to have an open mind.  In a room full of opinionated and often bossy teenagers, you have to allow yourself to consider other people's ideas and thoughts.  Everything I do in leadership is collaborative and I wouldn't complete any of my tasks without the help of my classmates. 

Anyone can be a leader, and I have learned that the power of my voice is huge.  If I want change, I can make it happen, and don't need to wait around for anyone else to do it.  I am in control of what happens in my life, and it is important for me to take control of things that I am passionate about.  By simply voicing my opinion things the original path can be altered.  Not everyone is perfect, and I have learned that my ideas aren't always great.  We all fail.  It is important to try and learn from your mistakes.  Yet, you can't learn if you don't throw yourself out there.

To put it simply, I am a better person because of the TMJH Leadership class, and I have all of my classmates to thank for that.  Leadership has changed my life in the best way possible. 

A Promise

(L to R) Me, Dad, Mimi
Photo Courtesy of Mama Claire

It seems that all the time people are making promises.  Many people say that promises are meant to be broken.  After all, promises are usually outrageous, unreasonable deals you make with your friends or family.  Or when a boy tells a girl, "I promise I will always love you." And the next week they're not even together and the boy has a new girl.  Sometimes a person has no choice to break off their promise, no matter how much they want it to happen.  Sometimes things are out of our control.  

In my life, there is one promise that I will never forget being told.  In April of 2007, I remember hearing my dad say he had a business trip around the same time as my birthday.  This meant that he would not be home to celebrate the big ninth birthday with me.

I remember saying, "Daddy, promise me you'll never miss my birthday.  Ever?"

He had promised to do the very best he could.  This is the one promise I will never, ever forget. 

Three months later he passed away unexpectedly.  He has missed six birthdays since.  Like I said, sometimes things are out of our control.  I don't blame him for anything, but I wish that he was here to see me get older.

My dad and me in 2007
Photo Courtesy of Mama Claire

I see my friends celebrating with their families, practicing sports with their dads, calling them to say hi.  Inside, my soul is crying and my mind is racing with all of the reasons why I was given this challenge.  I don't forget promises.  I don't say the past should be forgotten for it will always be apart of me.  I don't ever give up.  What's the point in stopping at an obstacle when there is always a way around it?  My friend once said, "God needed a few good men up there and that is why he chose your dad."  I know he's up there watching me, and I will do everything in my power to make him proud. 

Dad, every time I go on a run, I hear you next to me telling to keep on going.  I feel our feet moving in sync and flying through the wind as one.  This year Running with Ed just so happens to be on May 18th.  Your birthday 49th birthday.  I promise to run with my whole heart and soul, and I know you'll be there with me as a run a total of 10 miles through Park City.  It is my way of telling the world, and you, that no matter what I am faced with, pain, sadness, injury, I will come out even better than before.  

Daddy, even if you can't keep your promise to be here for my birthday, I promise to always be here for yours.  See you there.

With love, 

Claire 

In Loving Memory of Jeff Breiholz

May 18, 1964-July 20, 2007

"Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true."