I have a guest blogger today, Katie Locke, MCD, CCC-SLP. A few month ago, Katie posted this on an Instagram picture of Rachel: “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Rachel. So proud of her.” She tells it better than I do. Her title was “Love to Love Rachel.” I took the liberty of using her first line though: One Girl Changed Another Girl’s Life – Forever. I hope you enjoy.
Love to Love, Rachel by Katie Locke, MCD, CCC-SLP
One girl changed another girl’s life forever, and I am here to tell about it. In 2008, I had the opportunity to meet Rachel. We both lived in Memphis and attended church together. A church member connected us with the intention of a babysitting job. Little did I know it would be way more than babysitting. Of course, we had lots of fun watching movies, eating snacks, playing games, and reading bed time stories, but a special bond was forming within those cherished nights. This sweet little girl was changing my heart and molding it into something I never knew existed. Every time I left her house, a piece of me was different. I could not quite understand how The Lord was working in the moment, but over the next couple of years I realized this special friend was about to change my life forever.
Rachel is ultimately THE person who pushed me into my career. I wanted to be a difference maker. I wanted to give people a voice. I wanted to see others succeed. As my senior year of high school was coming to a close, I knew the direction God was pushing me to go. Through conversations with Mrs. Jawanda about Rachel receiving speech therapy and research of my own, I found this field of study to be only the beginning of a passion forming within me. What’s better than being able to give someone the ability to communicate?!
So, let’s fast forward six and a half years. I have now graduated with my Master’s degree, and I am currently working as a speech-language pathologist. All thanks to Rachel and her family, I have truly found the career that my heart beats for. Rachel’s zest for life has influenced her voice. She has stood up and let nothing stop her. In those moments, I realized how important it was for others to have a voice.
I thank God for allowing our paths to cross.
I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and get to know someone who may not be within your circle of friends. I guarantee you they will change your life for the better. You will be blessed beyond measure, and who knows…you might just find a friend for life. And remember to ALWAYS support and advocate for the ones who deserve it the most!
Rules to Live By:
- Live life to the fullest.
- Never let anyone tell you that you are not capable of something.
- Reach for the stars and don’t stop until you’ve accomplished all that you have set out to do.
Awwww so sweet! You know I had both Rachel and Katie in my kindergarten class. ❤️ They have both turned out to be world changers! So proud of both of them!