Carolyn McLaughlin, Woman of Excellence

One thing that has inspired me throughout my life has been the example demonstrated by my parents, Vidie Lee and Joe King McLaughlin. You can say that I was probably raised in a corner grocery store that my parents bought when I was in the sixth grade. In the process of watching them learn how to run a business, their interaction with community people, and how everyone was treated as though they were somebody, everybody was treated with respect. If there was a need my parents tried to fill it, if there was an opportunity to show kindness, if there was an opportunity to show that we were all equal, my parents lived that kind of life.?Rachael McGhee in her book “The?Sum of Us” emphasizes the fact that our lived experiences should affect the “sum of us” and not just?“some of us” My parents always seized the moment to make that a reality.?If they could make sure your children had food to eat,?then our family of 7 children would never be hungry. They gained the respect of the people in the community through hard work and generosity.??This is the way I am destined to live. This living example of community service was coupled with being told that you’re not better than anyone else less than anyone else either?I coupled this with parents always telling me that you’re not better than anybody else, but you’re certainly not less than anybody else either. I was brought up to be kind, to offer help when you have the opportunity to do it never expecting anything in return, but just doing it because it’s the right thing to do.