The Power of Showing Up: Lessons from St. John's

In this special Celebrate Your Story, I revisit my early years working at St. John's Residence for Boys, a home for boys who couldn't safely live with their families. It was a place where structure created stability and relationships created possibility. At the time, I was a young counselor, learning the job alongside the boys themselves. My days were shaped by schedules, shared meals, hard conversations, and small moments of trust earned over time. St. John's showed me how much consistency matters, and how powerful it can be when a young person knows someone will show up for them, day after day. In this episode, I share stories from life inside St. John's, including the boys who taught me resilience, the mentors who modeled patience and leadership, and the experiences that revealed how belief and guidance can shape a young person's future. These relationships left a mark on me and influenced how I think about responsibility and leadership to this day. This episode reflects on service and the role we each play in creating environments where people can grow. It's a reminder that our stories are formed through relationships — through the people we support, the lessons we pass on, and the communities that help us become who we're meant to be.