The Heroes Among Us By Madeline Zukowski, DSHA ’11 As the entire world celebrates its frontline heroes, DSHA has women in its ranks of alumnae who deserve to be honored among this special group of people — people who are putting the needs of others before themselves. These Dasher heroes among us carry with them the Qualities of the DSHA Graduate, instilled in every student by the end of their high school career. Now, more than ever, these qualities make a huge impact — both on the DSHA alumnae and those they are serving.
During this time of crisis, the community has looked to, and continues to depend on, the frontline heroes. The setting of their work may differ from person to person — they may work in hospitals, directly in the community, or in places with vulnerable populations — but they all have a passion and drive to help their neighbors, even as it presents a risk to their own well-being. Dozens of DSHA alumnae are these heroes. And while we honor just a few of them on these pages, they all embody what it means to be a Dasher — a confident, capable woman making an actual, tangible difference in the world for good. They are believers. They draw on their faith that was strengthened at DSHA, and lean on this faith during this difficult time. They are self-advocates. They assess their strength and abilities, and do their part to help whenever and however they know they are capable. With courage, they fight for what is right — for their patients and themselves— even in the midst of risk and unknowns. They are critical thinkers. Even though their job responsibilities and roles have evolved, they adapt quickly and intelligently, making choices of life and death each day. They are communicators. They hear from those who are struggling; they respond and they share in those struggles. They communicate using both strategy and empathy, grace and truth. They are leaders. In constant collaboration with others, they proactively fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 and the effect it has on all members of the community. While the DSHA Qualities of a Graduate were established in these frontlines alumnae during their time at DSHA or its founding schools, we are learning from them each and every day, even as they continue to discover new information themselves. They show us what it means to carry oneself with confidence, to selflessly help others, and to trust in our values and beliefs — even and especially when times are tough. We are proud to call these alumnae a part of our community. Fred Rogers is famously quoted for saying, “When I was a boy and would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” These alumnae are quick to point to others who are helping, the people they find in their line of work that inspire them. But they deserve the recognition as well. They are the helpers. And for that, we are immensely grateful.
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Pictured is Princess Jones, DSHA ’05, a registered nurse at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. She is celebrated in a May 1 #FrontlinesFriday post on DSHA’s social media accounts. To read about other DSHA alumnae who are serving on the frontlines, visit DSHA on Facebook @DSHAHighSchool, or Instragram @dshahighschool. Search the hashtag #FrontlinesFriday for additional stories of hope and inspiration from the Dasher community.
