Inspiring Women Magazine May 2023
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
profile<br />
Moving FAWCO into a<br />
Post-COVID-19 World<br />
Ann Marie Morrow, AWC Finland, tells us about herself and her<br />
"new beginning" as FAWCO’s incoming President.<br />
We moved around a lot when I was<br />
younger, mostly within upstate New<br />
York. I remember enjoying moving<br />
to new places, starting new schools<br />
and getting to know new people. Changing high<br />
schools was perhaps more challenging than<br />
changing a school when I was younger, but I was<br />
always on board for another adventure. I even<br />
went to three different universities, but managed<br />
to graduate a year early. I was somehow in a<br />
hurry, taking extra classes, working, volunteering,<br />
and, of course, partying too. My Finnish husband<br />
and I met at university in the US. I never imagined<br />
that I’d live so long in one place as I have now. I’ve<br />
been in Finland for more than 20 years; I came<br />
for one year and continue to “renew my contract”<br />
each year.<br />
Ann Marie<br />
A defining moment in my life was when I was a<br />
freshman at university. I spent a lot of time with<br />
my three-year old cousin, who was getting cancer<br />
treatment. She and her family were staying at a<br />
nearby Ronald McDonald House, and I would stay<br />
there on Fridays as well (Pizza Fridays!) Meeting<br />
all the families and children going through such<br />
battles for life and death was a real perspective<br />
wakeup call for an 18-year-old. The wisdom and<br />
grace of the children and their families was<br />
humbling. It really shaped my outlook and<br />
perspective on what is important in life. I<br />
realized how short and fragile life is.<br />
I don’t want to waste my time doing<br />
things that don’t matter and I try to<br />
spend my time in a way that I won’t<br />
Winter<br />
wonderland<br />
in Finland.<br />
98 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 99