My mom was a single parent of 7 children but reared a total of 9 in our home. She instilled in us three core values that helped shape me into who I am today. One being the importance of education and ensuring that we were in school every day (perfect attendance was our most frequent end-of-school-year award). Secondly, we were taught skills like cooking, house cleaning, sewing, how to grocery shop, gardening, fishing, chopping wood, and how to build a fire (most any and all life skills to sustain a home). My mom also ingrained in us the importance of faith and having a personal relationship with God. She ensured that we were in church every Sunday. I can remember walking to church as a family every Sunday morning because we didn’t have a car and sitting on the same pew in the back of the church. These childhood memories and lifelong lessons deemed critically essential during the pandemic. While some panicked from the fear of ‘what if,’ I leaned to the values that were introduced to me by my mom. The life skills that were thought of as pastimes and no longer necessary birthed several businesses. After attending college and obtaining a degree in healthcare, I can remember stating that I would never go into business. I can also remember my mom telling us to never tell God never.

I am Rebecca Brown Shippy, a mother of 3 daughters, a soon to be first time grandmother, a healthcare worker, and a business owner. I chose healthcare because 1) I love caring for others and 2) healthcare has always been known as the career with security. In fact, we were known as ‘essential workers’ during the pandemic. The hospital where I was employed during the pandemic was forced to close at the beginning of the pandemic, and patients were diverted to another hospital. As a result of this, I was laid off for over 4 months. I am a respiratory therapist who was educated and trained to care for patients with heart and lung issues but was not essential during a medical outbreak of a virus that primarily affected the lungs. This layoff helped me to see just how essential those core values my mom instilled in me were. One of my now three businesses flourished during this time. I started a small craft business from my home, Your Choice Trendy Creations LLC  utilizing the sewing skills my mom taught me. This business id so well until I employed 2 people and trained them to sew. These skills that were once seen as hobbies or unnecessary became my lifeline during the pandemic. Not only did they provide me with a source of income, but they also allowed me to help others in need. Joanne’s Safe Haven INC was introduced in 2021-2022. Joanne’s Safe Haven INC is a community development center that allow our elderly community members to mentor and teach life-skills to the next generation and to anyone who would like to learn invaluable life-skills. Lastly, in my witnessing the physical effects of the virus, my third business, Joannercize Fitness LLC was launched. Joannercize Fitness is my fitness company that utilizes common everyday tools and techniques that are not necessarily considered exercise to make working out and fitness fun. Through these businesses, I was able to continue caring for others, just in a different way.

While it was challenging to navigate the uncertainties of the pandemic, I found strength and resilience in the values my mom had instilled in me. I learned the importance of adaptability and perseverance, and I discovered that sometimes the most unexpected circumstances can lead to new opportunities. Looking back, I am grateful for the lessons my mom taught me and for the experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. Without her guidance and the values she instilled in me, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and find success in unexpected places. Thank you, Mom, for everything.