Challenge - Winter 2007/2008 - Tiffin University

e-mails and online blogs, in the few weeks she’s been there, she’s
thriving in the environment where “everyone signs.”
Mimi Rose Adams is an inspiration to me because she lived outside
her comfort zone the entire time she was mainstreamed in a “hearing”
school; and now, finally, feels perfectly at home among her
signing peers, faculty and staff at the college. My life has been
changed through my association with this cute kid turned lovely
young woman. Any time I’m called upon to step outside my comfort
zone; whether it’s to work with an exceptionally challenging
client, or to attend college classes with young people with a “bornon”
date after that of some of my socks, I will think of her having
been there, experienced that all of her public school days.
Editor’s Note:
Paula Young is a sophomore, non-traditional student, currently attending
classes in Tiffin. She earned an associate’s degree in ASL
Interpreting. “I’m (very) slowly working on a bachelor’s degree,” she
said. A longtime resident of Tiffin, Paula is a wife, mother, grandmother,
and ASL Interpreter in a public school system.
SECOND PLACE WINNER
Wow! Anything is Possible with
Belief in Yourself and Support
By Rhonda Kieffer
Many have inspired me, as well as two significant events. It is
difficult to give any one individual or event more credit than the
next. We are all journeying as a result of individuals and events
continually. The many that have impacted my life would include
my children, more specifically my twin twelve year old daughters,
Allison and Ashley. They both have cerebral palsy to different degrees.
Allison is affected within her learning and Ashley is affected
physically in her legs, hands and some in learning.
Both are not severe by any means but just enough to keep a challenge
in their growth.
They inspire me with their open mind
and how they adapt and continue with their best and modify as
necessary. They do all this so easily and through trial and error
until they find the best possible way. That in itself, as a mother of
these two wonderful young girls, has helped me to see that I too
can do this within my life. I have modeled their resilience through
a divorce, returning to school at Tiffin University, working and taking
on new chapters within my life.
Another person who
has influenced me and
only in a relatively
short time compared
to others is my fiancé,
Ron. His belief and
capability to love unconditionally
not only
myself but my daughters
sustains and encourages
me daily. The
Rhonda, Allison and Ashley
divorce was a profound event and when I walked across Tiffin
University stage to receive my bachelor’s degree through the Fast
Track program at 40 years old also impacted me profoundly. The
degree represented a closure to my past twenty years of a turbulent
marriage and a new beginning. The beginning has taken on
a different path than I anticipated in that I found a significant other
and true love. This has given me the confidence to pursue my
Master of Humanities degree through Tiffin University.
In addition to the above people and events, I also contribute my
faith as a major moving, sustaining and motivating factor throughout
my life. These people, my accomplishments and my faith, I believe,
have positively affected me by believing that I am important,
I can accomplish my goals and that, no matter what, I am loved by
people, but most importantly by my maker. All of these I believe
will contribute to me being able to help, serve and assist others
throughout whatever roles I play within my life from this point.
My future is still an unwritten book waiting to be written page by
page and chapter by chapter. The fact that I have a loving significant
other, my children, the ability to learn and obtain my degree
and most importantly my creator and faith with me daily, then I
can accomplish anything and my ideal would be to be involved
with an non-profit organization so that I may assist with the volunteers
or fundraising efforts for a worthwhile cause, particularly
ones affecting families and children.
Editor’s Note:
Rhonda earned a Bachelor of Business Administration through TU’s
Fast Track program. “Tiffin University offered me an opportunity to
continue my education and reach my educational goal. I pursued
the degree while moving twice, working full time as a single mom
and raising four daughters. Now, I want to further my education
which is why I am now enrolled in the Master of Humanities program
at Tiffin University,” she said.
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