Special Featured Look: Wearing Teal for Ovarian Cancer Awareness
In honor of September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, today I’m sharing some deeper thoughts to accompany this special featured look of the month! TEAL EVERYWHERE!
Six-and-a-half years ago, my fresh-out-of-college self came to the agency world eager to part of something bigger than just a 9-5 gig. For the first few months, as an intern, I was given the opportunity to work as a writing assistant on a video project for Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (a.k.a. MOCA). Little did I know; that opportunity would be a guidepost for my professional journey.
For the better part of my life I’ve been surrounded by healthcare-oriented adults; both my mother and my father are nurses and a large portion of my extended family are also healthcare professionals. I lived most of my days knowing that if I had a health issue, I clearly had go-to people I could seek out. They would console, advise and all would be well.
Later that first summer, I found myself enjoying more than just the writing aspect of the job; learning to be a better leader became one of the big aspirations of mine. As the years passed, I become an account executive and serendipitously was assigned as the account person for MOCA. Those first projects were so exciting to me – and not because of the different sense of responsibility but because of the inspiring people I came into contact with. Two years ago I was asked to sit on their committee for the annual Gala (their largest annual event) and am currently co-chair.
In my continued work with MOCA over the years, each person I’ve come to meet has a different story; each a diverse background – but one common thread connects them – the cause goes beyond ovarian cancer, it bridges the aspect of disease to the soul; relationships are built through these benevolent hearts; here is where hope is found: hope stemming from an undeniable persistence for a cure.
Working with MOCA has not only opened my eyes to a wonderful organization, but to a group of wonderful people truly making a world of a difference. Through working with them, I believe I’ve come to realize what being a leader is all about.
A leader, to me, is like a shepherd; a shepherd who guides their herd through all sorts of toilsome terrain before arriving at the ultimate destination. But it’s the rocky travel that makes the end that much more fulfilling.
These amazing people I’ve been so lucky to meet have helped me understand the type of person I can be not only in my work life but in my daily walk of life as well; and for that, I couldn’t be more proud to spread the word for them.
The month of September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month – I’ll be wearing the color teal throughout the month to promote awareness! Join me if you will and use the hashtag #ovariancancerawareness to keep spreading the word!
If you’d like to learn more about MOCA or Ovarian Cancer in general, feel free to visit these URLs:
http://mnovarian.org/about-ovarian-cancer/
XO, SarahRileyRose
