And when one of her students shared , “ I just want someone to listen to me for an hour today ” – that ’ s what she did .
“ We sat on the sidewalk and ate Fudgsicles and giggled at the silliest things ,” Tami recalls with some emotion . “ And when we both left smiling , I was reminded that the most beautiful moments are when we are simply present … with an open heart .”
Loss & Light
“ I am passionate about helping families through times of loss . Reminding someone that they are not alone makes their journey a bit easier to walk ,” confides Tami .
“ They ( first responders ) are in every way our unsung heroes !” says Tami . “ And my family is so incredibly supportive . My grandchildren always ask how much longer before they can come to my graduation , which makes me smile . And makes me so determined to finish well .”
Soup , Family & Faith
Tami ’ s empathy for others has a culinary counterpart – she loves making and sharing soup and estimates that one of her go-to pots has likely been in a hundred different homes , helping to comfort and warm those inside .
“ I do LOVE making soup for others ,” Tami smiles . And when asked what brings her comfort and joy in her own life , her smile brightens even more .
Though still working full-time at the construction company , Tami went back to school – at the age of 59 – to prepare for another career , closer to her heart .
“ I woke up on a very cold , January morning and decided I wanted to finish my life being able to live out what my passion is – serving others ,” explains Tami . “ So far , I have been the oldest student in every class . But I ’ m always excited to learn from my younger classmates and share the wisdom that someone my age naturally acquires .”
Through Grand Canyon University , she is earning a degree in science of human behavior with an emphasis in trauma and hopes to counsel first responders to help them process the traumatic events they encounter on the job .
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