Rebecca Damron-Whitehead
What makes Rebecca Wildly Capable?
“Becca’s professional life is quite accomplished but it’s her spirit and character that fascinates me most. She is beyond inclusive with literally everyone she comes in contact with. She is the best listener, knowing when to provide advice and when to simply listen.”
What makes you feel proud?
Though in no way did I make it this far on my own, I do believe I worked hard to get where I am today. I have consciously challenged every statistic and expectation that has been spoken about who I was supposed to become, having grown up in an impoverished, single-parent home. I have used my fierce, yet gentle nature to fight for myself and my potential and because of that, I think I have been able to channel that mindset into fighting for the potential in others.
What keeps you up at night?
I do my best worrying at night! I often marinate on all of the students I have worked with over the past 10 years and wonder if what I did and continue to do was and will be enough. Enough is a tricky word, because it doesn’t really have an end point. It feels like a continuous cycle of striving, which can be exhausting. The world feels so dark and hurtful right now and I worry that we are running low on lightbearers, so I’m often ruminating over how we can make it better and safer for those most vulnerable and, oof, there are days when I feel overwhelmed by it all.
What’s been the biggest obstacle in your life so far?
My biggest obstacle has been me! My brain occasionally works overtime to try to convince me that I shouldn’t or can’t. As much as I proclaim the importance of self-love and self-acceptance, there are days when it feels like the worthiness train left without me. This can impede my ability to live presently, as I’ll be stuck in my mind, ruminating about what I should or could be doing instead of just existing for the sake of existing. As if “doing” is the only path to worthiness. However, when I get stuck in this vicious cycle, I am reminded of the quote, “you are a human being, not a human doing.” Though it will be continuous work, I would like to think that I’m getting closer to accepting the “being” part of this whole “being a human” thing.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“If you’re not falling, you’re not learning.” By nature, I am a perfectionist, especially if there’s an audience. However, this advice has served as a reminder that falling (failing) is just as, if not more important than any success. It has taught me to embrace the fall, accept help from others, and above all else, to get back up and keep going.
