Dorrie is part of our “Who Are You?” campaign, which began in Cameroon, Africa and has spread around the world. We gave her a disposable camera to give us a glimpse into her life. Dorrie is a juggler: wife, mother, daughter, friend, teacher and student. She lives in Texas and is married to the love of her life, Hank and has a daughter (Anne, 16 going on 26) and Alex (24). A dedicated Social Studies teacher for 28 years, Dorrie aspires to be a school principal one day and recently completed her masters degree. Dorrie’s community is everything to her, and her dedication is inspiring.

With my dearest friends in the world I can eat as much chocolate as I want, say whatever I want and they love me for who I am. These two women will always love and support me.

Sunday night dinner with family is non-negotiable. We gather around the table: my in-laws, my father, my sister-in-law and my daughter (my son lives in Austin, Texas). I love my mother-in-law! She has been supportive and never judgemental—a friend and confidante.

I love the school I’ve taught at since 1991. I love the teachers, the kids, the Friday night football games, coaching my Academic Decathlon team and teaching my students about the government. I can’t teach anywhere else—it just wouldn’t fit.

My sweet mother is 84 and living in a nursing home. I try to visit every day and when I can’t, I feel so guilty. After all of the care my mother has given me over the past 51 years, how can I not do the same for her? They provide excellent care for her but I feel bad for not being able to provide the care that would keep her at home with my dad.

My role as daughter is changing into that of caregiver—although I am now the chief decision maker for my parents, they still see me as their little girl. It breaks and fills my heart at the same time.

There are so many demands on my time—there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done.

My husband and I are high school sweethearts. I hope that my husband and I will have 64 years together and still like each other

My daughter attends the school where I teach and she eats lunch with me every day. She is independent and yet my baby. I feel like my time with her is coming to an end and it makes me so sad.

As a parent, it is truly rewarding to see my child as a happy, healthy and productive adult.

My dad is 87 and still very independent. He and my mother have been married for 64 years and he visits her in the nursing home every day while she recovers from a broken hip. He still refers to her as his “little potato chip,” which always makes me smile.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 15th, 2011 at 6:09 pm and is filed under Who Am I?. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.