Janice Trojanowski: Full Circle

My bond with my daughter, and with my own mother have been a spiritual, loving, and empowering learning experience. We are all bonded together in an unexplainable unspoken bond that only other mothers and daughters can know. There is an intuitive emotion that connnects us through the generations. My own Mother passed away 10 years ago. However, she lives on in the way I lead my life and what I have taught my daughter. For me the relationships have come full circle as I am now watching with pride as my own daughter embarks on her own journey in life with a sense of belonging; a sense of empowerment.

My Mom was an immigrant during world war II; a "war bride" as some describe the brave young women that came to the U.S. in the middle of a world war. My Mom was not a professional woman, she did not hold any advanced degrees. However, the lessons she taught me are worth more than anything that could be taught in a classroom. My Mother worked tirelessly to care for her family both in and out of the home. She was not afraid to speak her mind and fight for what she felt was right in life. She was a devoted loving mother that in her own quiet ways taught me to reach for the stars, to never settle and to always open your heart to others. She taught by setting an example of wisdom, grace and strength. And of service to her family and others and of pride in being a woman. in doing so she empowered me to be a strong woman in whatever life has brought me.

I became a nurse and worked for 25 years caring for patients and their families in addition to raising my own two children. I have taken care of people from all walks of life. All races, religions, sexual orientations, and social status. I never "saw" color or status; all I saw was my patient, needing comfort and compassionate care. Nursing was more than a job for me. It was a vocation and one I took as a spiritual priveledge. During my working years, my children both were always aware of my responsibilites at work, they visitied me often at work as little children and later on both volunteered in on a geriatric unit at my workplace. They too were raised with the examples my own Mother taught me. To be empathetic and to realize as my Mom would put it "But for the grace of God go I."

So now my daughter; my wonderful, beautiful spirited daughter is coming into her own. She has worked hard during her four years of college. Not only achieving academic excellence but in volunteering herself in service to her school and community,both local and globally. She has taken those lessons and multiplied them ten fold. My daughter has worked tirelessly as a resident assistant, provided programs on womens issues and social justice on her campus as well as countless fund raising projects for various causes. She has become fluent in Spanish and traveled to Nicaragua six times in three years with delegations at her school to work with underpriveledged families; mostly women and children. She spent last summer there teaching English and also sexual and reproducitve health. In a country such as Nicaragua she faced many challenges in doing her work, but she persevered and made a difference. My daughter did not see "class" or color" she saw humanity; and a s part of the human family she jumped to her calling by teaching, caring, by getting involved and not being afraid to speak her truth. She has served and made a difference in the lives of women and children both in the U.S. and abroad.

My daughters chosen profession is Social Work. She will be moving forward for an MSW and her ultimate goal is to work in the foster care system to improve conditions for children and work towards reunification of parent and child whenever possible. Graduating college in a few weeks is the culmination of years of hard work but also a tribute back to her grandmother and also to me for being a compassionate human being, for being a strong and very wise woman. My hope is that the circle will continue as my own daughter moves forth in this world to make a difference in an even greater capacity than the women before her. And to be of service; for it is by giving that we receive. And in the strength of a woman shall lie the foundation of tomorrow.

Janice Trojanowski is a 47 year old mother, wife, nurse and humanitarian. She has twenty one year old daughter who will be graduating from college this May; as well as a 25 year old son who together are the great joys and accomplishments of her life.