in high school, you knew more about me than my best friends.

When I was in my old high school tonight, I did something I had never done before: I raised my hand to sign an "L" during the singing of the alma mater. Yes, I felt old enough to do it since I'm now about three years out of high school. It was the annual "Mr. LE" and my sister was escorting her best guy friend.

I was reflective not only being in my old high school for the first time in years, but I also was reflective because this program was one I had once been backstage helping run. Since the "Mr. LE" is run by the journalism department, I could not help but think about all the fun memories I had had with the journalism department at Lugoff-Elgin Highs School. In fact, the journalism department was what made the years of high school bearable for myself. It also had me reflecting on the individual who ran our journalism department so successfully.

A teacher who yes as the Buzzfeed list said, "knew more about me than my best friends do". My high school journalism teacher, Jenny Proctor, was one whom did know more about me than most of my best friends in high school. Here is an updated and repost from a previous blogpost of mine from when I described her my life changer. Today, she still is.

We all have one person who began something really important in our life. They were the first to inspire us or guide us. They began something in our life, no matter how small, that had a significant impact.

Sometimes that impact happens at one time, and sometimes it's a long-lasting and continuing impact.

The appreciation I have for this woman in my life cannot be put into words, nor can the love I have for her be measured. There is no way I would be pursuing the career that I am, with the passion that I have had it not been for her.

The first time I entered Journalism 101, I was met with an energetic, vivacious woman. She had this passion for this new subject of mine, journalism. It was a passion that I soon shared. There was something infectious about her passion.

She opened my eyes to a world where there is a commitment to telling the truth. A commitment to keeping the public informed. A commitment to telling peoples' stories and living out the first amendment right.

A teacher is someone who not only teaches her students academic lessons, but life lessons as well. Where their commitment to their students isn't just about fulfilling their job description, but fulfilling a higher calling. A calling to make a difference.

She is one who has never given up on me. Her commitment to me as a student was also a commitment to me as a person. This is why three years after I've graduated high school, I still turn to her for advice. It is why I still pick up my phone to tell her good news before most other people.

Her impact in my life cannot be put into words. It can only be seen when I reflect back on the journey that led me here. When I reflect on the journey I have taken in pursuing my dreams. Each step along the way, she is there. She has added to the pieces of the puzzle of my life in both small and big ways.

I know that there is absolutely no way I would be who I am without her.

If only our world had more teachers who made such a commitment to their students. Who are truly pursuing a higher calling of helping guide their students instead of just earning  a paycheck. It is these individuals that make the difference in the lives of the students they teach.

It is people like Jenny Proctor who make the world a better place.

You're a life changer. You are my life changer. Thank you for being you. Thank you for helping me too, to grow in my faith. I learned through you what it meant to teach young people about being a woman of Christ. You walk in His name every day, and it is reflective in the way you carry yourself daily. I grew in my faith as I would sit in youth groups at Bethel and listen to you pray then teach our weekly lesson, or other times I would hear you teach about God's Word. I knew I could come to you with faith questions, and you would be willing to listen and answer.

Thank you Jenny for being you. You've impacted my life in more ways than I can describe. I am thankful to have you as a mentor. I am thankful that even six years after we first met, I still have you in my life. I pray that never changes.

my coaches.

Tonight at church we had a speaker come from Presbyterian College's FCA. In his talk, he discusses the importance of coaches, not in regards to wins or looses with whatever games of the sports they happen to be coaching. No, he was talking about the wins or loses in the students' lives; he was discussing the importance of mentors that coach to the kids about a life lived in Christ.

Now this spoke to me and immediately my own coaches came to my mind. No, I am not talking about sport coaches. If any of you know me well, you know that I am not an athletic individual. The only type of sports I ever did was one round of soccer around my first grade year. When we started running at practice, I asked the coach if we ran this much every time. The answer was yes and my answer to that was to sit in the middle of the field until my daddy came and got me. I never did return to another practice.

What came to my mind were the mentors I have or have had in my life. In particular I thought of the women mentors I have had in my life. My course load this semester at PC all revolve around two topic: women and religion. This has caused me to have at the forefront of my mind the many wonderful female spiritual mentors I have had or do have that have helped me grow in my faith.

Tonight I was inspired to highlight each of these ladies. While Women's History Month does not begin until technically Sunday, I am going to begin this week with one very special spiritual mentor in my life. This individual has helped me through some of my most challenging times of my college years. To be honest, I cannot think I would have made it through without her help, guidance, patience, wisdom, and unconditional love.

Week one spiritual mentor highlight.

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A life coach by example: Kitty Holtzclaw.

My first Sunday at Broad Street United Methodist Church, I was quite surprised to see a female minister walk down the aisle during the opening hymn. While I had had female pastors in the past, I had never encountered one who was so young as the head pastor. It instantly gained my attention.

Quickly I grew to like this head pastor, Dr. Rev. Kitty Cooper Holtzclaw, as is her official title. When she stepped up to that pulpit, you knew you were hearing someone preach that was moved by the Holy Spirit. However, it was more than just her weekly sermons that gained my admiration for Kitty. Truthfully, it was the way she lived her life that has and does teach me so much.

Kitty knows how to make people feel loved. She genuinely cares for every congregation member (or visitor) that walks through the doors of the church. It is through her example that I learned what it means to welcome all in the name of Christ. Every Wednesday evening, she takes time to speak to practically everyone in Hodges Hall. Even if she is the very last one in the line to get dinner, she does not stand in line until she has spoken to all.

Through her example, Kitty has taught me what it means to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. While I view her as one of the wisest women I have ever met, she also is wise in Scripture. When she preaches or teaches a lesson, you know that there is divine inspiration behind what she is proclaiming to her congregation. I have learned from her that when I go to step up and lead in a worship type of setting (whatever this may look like), I need to be cognizant to listening for the Holy Spirit's guidance. There is no doubt that is what she does.

Kitty has also taught me that the best ministers have a sense of humor. Anyone that knows me too, knows that if I don't pick on you, then I don't truly care. If I am teasing you mercilessly, it means I love you. This is a similar sense of humor found in Kitty. She knows how to crack and joke and make the whole room laugh. Not only this, but she walks around with joy. You cannot be around her and not instantly feel better, mood wise and about yourself. Over the past years, we have played off each other in this witty manner. I appreciate a minister who can be both serious and funny. Even Jesus laughed a time and again.

More than anything, I have learned from Kitty what a woman of God looks like; both in the ways of a person and as a member of the clergy. Honestly, Kitty is one of the wisest women I have ever met. Not only in the academic sense, but in the theological sense as well. Listening to her talk, even in normal conversation, will typically leave me in awe. Her insight is amazing and I am grateful I have the chance to regularly engage in conversation with her.

Kitty has been someone I can always count on. Even when I am trying the patience or asking yet another theological question, she is always there for me. I know that if push comes to shove, I can reach out to her for help; whether this is shoulder to cry on, an ear to share good news with, or simply someone to laugh with. Kitty loves unconditionally and that is something that has meant the world to me during my three years in college. She listens intently, thinks about her answers, and then offers the advice she feels is best.

To a young Christian woman, this example to live by is priceless.

So thank you to my collegiate coach, Pastor Kitty Holtzclaw. Your influence on myself means the world to me, as does your relationship. Thank you for just being yourself and what that allows me to learn from you. You are a remarkable woman.

 

 

 

 

Next week: spiritual coach by high school standards.