Grace
“I do think women are collectively strong, resilient, beautiful and empathic. I love that being a woman means I get to belong to a community of people who I can look to for strength, inspiration, and guidance.”
Grace is outgoing, adventurous, and often energized by those she surrounds herself with. She is the kind of person who can laugh at herself or make light of any scenario, defusing awkward situations and allowing others to feel more at ease. Meet Grace. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
G: My name is Grace Bachman. I am twenty-three years old and currently live in Boston, MA. I am originally from Upstate N.Y. and attended both undergraduate and graduate school at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. I currently work as a tax accountant for a large private company. I love spending time with my friends and family, and enjoy baking, trivia, working out on my Peloton, board games and pop culture.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
G: It’s a tricky task for me to describe myself because I generally go to that fall back position of how I think others, in particular my family and friends, see me. But if I had to describe myself, I would say that I am an extroverted person who is devoted, very organized (truly in love with planning and excel sheets – might be my language of love LOL), funny, awkward, considerate and kind. In addition, I would describe myself as very dedicated and determined. Once I have a goal in mind, very little can stop me from accomplishing it.
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
G: I think my favorite thing about myself is my ability to make others feel comfortable and laugh. As an extrovert, I derive my energy from being around others, especially my friends and family. I attribute much of who I am to the people I surround myself with. The way that my friends and family make me feel is how I want everyone to feel. I try to make everyone I meet feel valued and welcomed. Being approachable is important and I love when other people feel comfortable enough around me to strike up a conversation.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
K: I was trying to pin point a particular experience that was some kind of turning point or “aha” moment in my life that made me stronger, but I don’t think there’s been such a moment for me. Rather, I have been shaped by a collection of many experiences that have made me stronger and who I am.
As I already alluded to (ever so casually), I can be an awkward person, LOL. Numerous family members and friends can easily vouch for this. But while others might find this attribute embarrassing, I have learned to embrace it. I think our mistakes and awkward moments make us human. I believe that this facet of my personality is one of the reasons why I have the ability to make others feel comfortable and laugh. I know what it feels like to do something embarrassing and then immediately following the experience ask “I am ever going to stop thinking about this for as long as I live?”
I have been able to turn my awkward moments into life lessons and, in addition, hilarious stories to share with others. For example, about six years ago I was headed into a Marshall’s Clothing Store to pick up a pair of khaki shorts for my job at a local pizza shop. As I was walking in, I tripped on the curb and fell flat on my back, right in front of the store entrance. Laying in a pool of my own….embarrassment… I paused for a moment. Just as I was collecting my pride by moving to a vertical stance, a customer exiting the store used the automatic door to WHACK my head and my pride once again. The gentleman who had been exiting Marshalls for some reason believed that the best thing to say to me was “what are you doing on the ground?” And a second customer, who was on her way into the store at the same time, didn’t ask me any questions or show concern, she just proceeded to say, “girl, get up!”
As I lay on the ground for that second time, I realized that the thud of the door hitting my head had echoed within the store. The manager ran out of the store and told me I couldn’t leave. What did she mean I couldn’t leave? All I wanted to do was leave or crawl into a hole somewhere. I wasn’t going to die from a concussion; I was going to die from embarrassment. She insisted that I call my mother to come pick me up because she didn’t want me to drive. My mature reaction was to cry. Could this moment get any worse? Yep….It sure could. As one employee went to grab me an icepack and other employees began to snicker (this snickering seemed mean at the time, but looking back now, I probably would have done the same thing if I were them), I called my mother. To be fair and give some context to her initial reaction to my phone call, I am one of six kids who have been responsible throughout many years of making steady, sometimes not-so-important phone calls to her while she is working. My mother’s first reaction when I called her was classic: “Hey Grace, I’m busy, I’ll call you right back.” Click. I never even got a word in. I called again, she repeats the same words again and hangs up. Now with my third attempt and all eyes on me, I’m praying she doesn’t hang up because I think the manager is beginning to suspect I’m homeless or something. Thank God on the third try, my mom asked me what I needed. I explained my situation. She was on her way. I never mentioned to the store manager, though, that she was stopping at the bank first. Classic mom…always practical. Her thought process: Hey, if I’m coming your way, I might as well get a little banking in.
This experience was truly one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Still, the story has been retold many times for a good laugh and it has made me resilient.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
G: There are so many things I would tell myself if I could go back in time. Most importantly, though, I think I would reassure my younger self that everything is going to be okay and that I should stay true to who I am. Being who you really are is enough. On the lighter side, I would advise my twelve year-old self not to cut my hair to my ears or get side bangs just because everyone else is doing it. Neither are a good look. And remember, looking like you’re eight years old in 9th grade will work to your benefit in about two decades.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
G: Being a woman is just being you. There is no one way to describe a woman, as every woman is unique and special in her own way. I do think women are collectively strong, resilient, beautiful and empathic. I love that being a woman means I get to belong to a community of people who I can look to for strength, inspiration, and guidance.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
G: Just one woman who inspires me? There are so many that inspire me! Wonderful women surround me. Along with my mom, I have four sisters, many aunts, other relatives and terrific friends. However, if I had to pick one person, it would be my mother. My mom is one of the strongest, bravest, most supportive, selfless, smartest and kindest women I know. I am actually getting emotional writing this. She has dedicated most of her life to her family and would do anything for those she loves. She’s given me some of the best advice I’ve ever had, despite my resistance to sometimes follow it. While she is the kindest of souls, she is also incredibly smart and fiercely strong. In balancing these attributes, she regularly warns anyone who underestimates her not to “mistake kindness for stupidity.”
She has taught my siblings and I to be smart, kind, brave and grateful. She has faced hardships with perseverance and grace. She not only gave me life, but saved mine as well. When I became ill as a newborn, she instinctively knew there was something wrong with me. While that trip to the emergency room saved my life, her love for me night after night in the ICU for months and her support for me day after day for years beyond that hospital stay saved my soul. She is a constant reminder of all of the silver linings life has to offer. She has been an incredible role model and inspiration. I love you, mom.