Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista

Leigh Keller is a high school guidance counselor at Batesville High School and the director of the BHS Glass Slipper Project. She lives in Batesville with her son, Cole, and a pack of dogs.

Today was one of those days, from start to finish, it was filled with hectic conversation, stressed out humans (big and small), and a schedule that never stopped. But one thing I was determined to face the day with was a positive attitude and lots of laughter (and snacks).

I was listening to Klove this morning on my way to work and they mentioned GoMAD, go and make a difference. I realize that this year has been a historical year, in so many ways, but that doesn’t mean we cannot love each other well, or that we cannot greet our colleagues and students with love and a smile, and that we cannot take a brief moment to breathe and listen when someone needs an ear. You can make a difference in someone’s life, and that doesn’t cost anything.

Who has made a great big difference in your life this week, this month or this year? Who do you see and you smile, or breathe deeper? Is it someone at church, or maybe your favorite cashier at the grocery store? Tell them!! We get so caught up in complaining about people that we forget to say thank you to the good people in our lives who are trying to encourage us.

Let me tell you, we have a precious sub, Mrs. Mary Painter, and she comes through the office in the mornings and has a treat for each of us. She greets us with a smile and a warm word. She makes a difference in my day when I have the pleasure of seeing her. You can tell that her love language is acts of service, and I’m sure, in non Covid times, she gives a mean hug. Several of our subs are wonderful Nanas, and it shows in how they speak to people and how they carry themselves. You see them coming to check in, and you relax, knowing that the kids in their classrooms will be well loved and cared for that day.

My love language is acts of service, so I totally get what these ladies are doing, and I see how our teachers relax when they see the snack cart coming (this was not their snack cart, it was fresh fruit, granola bars and waters for our testers. I came upon lots of kids in the commons who eyeballed my cart and said “do any of you want a snack?”, and you could see them relax. They even said thank you. I know so many teenagers with wonderful manners, kudos to their parents! )

Get out there tomorrow and extend that “good morning”, share your desk snacks, and make someone else feel seen and loved, pause before you respond to that snappy email or that upset parent on the phone, whatever that looks like in your life !

Don’t be too jealous of the glamour of my job. I tell people often that I never have the same day twice. School counselor Ed programs should tell their students that their biggest responsibility is going to be taking care of the humans in their building, however that may look that day. N

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A Better Choice for Your Main Course • Angus, Aged Beef Tenderloin Filets & Ribeyes • Old-Fashioned, Whole Chickens • Thick-cut Bacon & Red Tie-made Sausage • Extra Tender Bacon Wrapped Pork Filets • Catfish, Salmon, Cod, Shrimp, Crablegs

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Sydney Sutherland Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Two ASUN Nursing Students

Arkansas State University-Newport awarded the Sydney Sutherland Memorial Scholarship to its first two recipients in February. Hailey Neeley, of Tuckerman, and Taelehs Nicholson, of Newport, were each awarded a $500 renewable scholarship to help them continue their education in the nursing profession.

Sydney Sutherland’s family helped present the checks to each student and expressed their gratitude to every person that helped make this opportunity possible.

“We can’t thank the community enough for helping us keep Sydney’s memory alive in such a positive way,” said Maggy Sutherland, Sydney’s mother. “This scholarship is just one way we can keep Sydney’s light shining.”

The Sutherland family, including Maggy, Sydney’s father Dion, brothers Sam and Tyler, and her nieces Mila and Leni, expressed great joy in knowing this scholarship will be able to support future nursing students for years to come.

“It means so much to our family to be able to honor Sydney and her passion for helping and serving others,” Sam Sutherland said. “Each scholarship that is given is just another way for Sydney’s legacy to live on.”

Sydney graduated from ASU-Newport’s Practical Nursing program before becoming a Registered Nurse. The first scholarship recipients are following closely in her footsteps.

Hailey Neeley is also a graduate of ASUN’s Practical Nursing program and is currently working towards becoming a Registered Nurse through the ARNEC program at ASUN.

“Caring for people has always been my passion,” Neeley said. “In the nursing profession you have to take care of complete strangers, and I have signed up to do this for life, just like one of my very best friends, Sydney Sutherland.”

Taelehs Nicholson is enrolled in the Practical Nursing program at ASUN. She decided to join the healthcare industry after giving birth to her son that was diagnosed with a form of Down Syndrome.

“Following in her [Sydney] footsteps will be a difficult journey, but her inspiration is leading me down a path to do all that I am able to help and assist those around me,” Nicholson said N

Pictured from left to right: Tyler Sutherland, Leni Sutherland, Maggy Sutherland, Hailey Neeley, Taelehs Nicholson, Sam Sutherland, Mila Sutherland and Teriann Turner.

Caroline Beauchamp is a local insurance agent for M & P Insurance & Investment Services. She offers personalized life and health insurance solutions and is known for her widelypublished informational column, ‘Caroline, Can We Talk?’.

I gave Ruth a puzzle for Christmas – a typical 1000piece puzzle 24” by 30” that would fit on a card table. It was a traditional Christmas scene with Baby Jesus in a manger, Mary and Joseph along with shepherds, an ox, a donkey, bunnies, several cats and kittens, geese and a dog. During the cold, wintery weather Ruth decided to start it.

She started putting together the outside pieces (the way to start a puzzle, right?) While putting together the four (4) sides, she realized something was wrong. This puzzle 24” x 30” had one side that was 33”! Yes, all the pieces fit right – she thought. Not only is this 3 inches more than it’s supposed to be it does not fit on the card table! Take apart and re-do. For some reason Ruth just had to look at the “age appropriate” for the puzzle. Oops! It shows ages 12+.

Is this why some people are withdrawn or depressed – they’re over age 65 and cannot work a puzzle designed for a 12-year-old? Ruth had been enjoying working on the puzzle with the fireplace roaring and her dog, Doug, nearby. Even though Doug was not getting the attention she normally got, she enjoyed the fireplace. Each day Ruth worked on the puzzle a little.

Then one day while Ruth was watching TV, Doug brought her something – a puzzle piece! It was chewed up and totally unrecognizable as far as shape or even color. When Ruth went over to look at the puzzle, she noticed Doug had put a few other pieces on the floor that were recognizable. (Ruth decided maybe Doug really did miss the attention and wanted to see what the fuss was about.)

This puzzle that started out with one side 3 inches too long now has a few “odd” shaped pieces. Maybe Doug has given Ruth a reason (or excuse) for the puzzle pieces to not quite fit together as they should. While Ruth and I were talking about the puzzle, Ruth stopped and got kind of thoughtful. She said “You know Life is like a puzzle. There are lots of pieces and we have to work to get them to fit together.

Sometimes we have to start over again to make it fit better and sometimes the pieces get misshaped and just won’t fit together.” Even though the “pieces” may not ever fit perfectly, we need to think about the fun we’re having putting the pieces together and how nice it looks once we’re finished. And if we want to, we can do it over again – a new adventure each time.

Have fun and relax. Take time away from being serious and be a 12-year-old kid. Remember to enjoy your journey as you continue to “put the pieces together”. It is a neverending journey. Tell me about your journey for this year - call 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?” I’ll keep you updated on Ruth’s puzzle progress. N