There’s a line in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem Success that has been imprinted on me since I first heard it at my college graduation: 'To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived . . . This is to have succeeded.' I even have it on a charm bracelet given to me by my husband. Working in foster care and adoption, you try for everyone. You don’t always have a win at the end but when you do, it’s what keeps you going.

I’ll be honest—when I got the reminder that it was my turn to attend Luzerne County’s annual adoption celebration this November, I wasn’t exactly eager. It’s a beautiful event, a bright spot in a field that is often heavy, but that morning I felt paperwork was my higher priority that day.

I've lived in Elk County most of my life. When my husband was in the Army, we did move around a bit, but this is where my family is, and it was a great place to raise kids. I raised two, and now I've got four grandkids that I get to spoil. Three of them are in the Seattle area, so I travel out there about three times a year. I really love to travel. Before I took this job, I actually did a solo cross-country trek on my motorcycle.

“I have a history of family working in criminal justice. My stepdad is a school security guard and has been a big influence on me. I’ve also always felt a strong connection to my grandmother even though she passed away before I was born. She was a correctional officer and was kind and always helping people."

Pennsylvania once again faces a state budget impasse, while federal shutdown threats ripple through communities. For many, these may seem like distant political battles—but for those serving children and families, the effects are immediate and profound.

I started my career as a parole agent in West Philly for seven years. I went to school for criminal justice but ruled out working in a forensics lab or law enforcement.