Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Fudge
Hi Sarah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was honored to be featured in Canvas Rebel again. I felt that the best way to communicate my ever evolving story from my last interview would be to be reflective about my most recent business success. I wanted to connect how some life lessons weaved into the fabric of my story and more importantly, how I overcame my challenges. These lessons I learned from unfortunate people as well as from truly awe-inspiring individuals. Each personal experience is a brick laid in my own pathway, leading me on my journey.
Life lesson number one: Embrace that your journey has not been easy.
Not to be too cliche, but my path makes me who I am today. Some friends call me “scrappy”, because I don’t give up easily. I would compare myself now to a well-oiled machine, bustling and working harder than ever before. I am not giving up and I am never going to quiet my drive.
What I would want people to know, is that my entrepreneurship successes are based on extreme lows and thriving in my crescendos. My internal engine striving to provide a better life for my family, mentally and financially. I never stop because I refuse to ever go backwards.
More importantly, I want to provide a service to children who struggle with learning how to read, write, and spell. When families come into our space, there is an instant weight lifted off their shoulders. We love that we can provide that sense of relief for our families.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life lesson number two: There is power in letting go.
When you let go of the challenges, obstacles and negatively you have faced, you are embraced with peace. This is exactly what I have done with my previous challenges. I have let go of it all.
Now when faced with obstacles, I do not crumble easily. I face my challenges directly. More importantly, I am not impulsive. I have learned to understand all the perspectives of the situation. There are many times when I do get stuck. In these situations, I reach out to my network of experts. I am accompanied by educational advocates and lawyers, psychologists, college professors and many teachers and administrators.
Some might say that it’s my job to look for problems, I would agree and say they are right. It’s my job to look at the problem presented and then work together on how best to solve it, addressing challenges through the strengths of the child. This is why we are experts in the field of dyslexia. We are not tutors, we are practitioners. Expert problem solvers, I really like the sound of that.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Life lesson number three: Be innovative.
What sets Saybrook Reading apart from other agencies is our innovativeness. We are always changing and evolving. Our business will always be focused on remediating children in reading, however, we have become so much more now and that is wildly exciting.
As a local woman business owner in a thriving beachside community. I have tapped into the art of connection. With these connections, my mantra has morphed into, “there is plenty of room at the top for all of us”. What that means is I support other woman, local business owners and my own practitioners to be themselves, the lovely and creative individuals we are all.
I have worked with other business owners like Caroline Olsen of Pearls & Plaid to create a bi-monthly book club for the community. I have partnered with Project Paws in development of a free book club for kids. I have created a free fun summer series of literacy activities for families to participate in all summer long. Our activities will get kids out in the community and in nature.
Saybrook Reading will continue to donate books to the local Little Libraries. We will continue to fund local activities in the community such as supporting the Old Saybrook Education Foundation, family movie nights on the town green, Old Saybrook Little League, donating to the local high school theatre and so much more.
I think our most innovative idea is welcoming other entrepreneurs into my office space as they kick off their own businesses. So far, Saybrook Reading has helped three separate businesses kick start their careers. For the ones out there watching from the sidelines, I want them to know I do have something to prove, so I lead by example. I want to show people that there is power in uplifting, loving and supporting one another. I can only hope it spreads like wildfire.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Life lesson number four: Look for the people helping during a crisis, not running away from it.
During the pandemic, I was home with my son who was 5 at the time. We often took long car drives, exploring all corners of Connecticut, marveling at the stillness the pandemic had given us. I was looking for ways to help but didn’t quite know how. A few months prior to the pandemic, I had posted signs in the community offering reading support for kids. At the end of March 2020, someone found my flyer. They called me looking for help, so I answered the call to action.
The request for help came from a parent of a high school student who was failing with online learning. The parent was looking for someone willing to meet in person. Seeing how all indoor public spaces were closed, I offered to meet on the town green, sitting six feet apart wearing masks. Luckily, we always had nice weather. Regardless, I was prepared with my rain jacket and waterproof paper if needed. My outdoorsman qualities have taught me to always be prepared, embrace all types of conditions and lean into it, even if it’s uncomfortable.
I learned that the people helping in a crisis are the people you want by your side.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saybrookreading.com
- Instagram: saybrook_reading
- Facebook: Saybrook Reading
Image Credits
Photo Credits go to Sarah Fudge and V Cellina Photography