Jessie
“Stop trying to predict and control where your life will go. Your future looks like nothing you can imagine. Go with the flow more. And yes, you can do it.”
Jessie is a free spirit and a curious explorer, who believes the best way to learn about the world is to immerse yourself within it. She has moved her family from a traditional classroom, to one situated in the jungle. Here she has discovered the value of family, the strength of her own body and the power of the unknown. Meet Jessie. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
J: Hi, I am Jessie Bennett. I am 29 years old. I am a wife of 10 years and a mom of four. We are expats currently living in Panama.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
J: I am a woman, a wife, a mother, an educator, a learner, a write, a reader, an introvert, a lover.
P: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
J: My resiliency and my love of learning.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
J: In 2019, we decided to leave the United States to worldschool our children. Our kids were 7, 4 & 3. We sold everything we owned and we got on an airplane destined for Costa Rica. We spent a month in remote Costa Rica learning about the jungle and each other more intimately. After Costa Rica, we spent two months in Panama. We enjoyed the city and loved the new experiences. And then plans started changing! We found out we were expecting baby number four! A surprise, but one we were excited about. We decided to rent a home in Panama and stay there to have the baby. And then... the pandemic hit. After three births in a hospital setting we decided to have our first homebirth. It was an empowering, peaceful experience. Overall, I learned how resilient I can be. Plans change, you have to be able to adapt. I learned how strong I can be. Giving birth at home by ourselves (the doctor didn't make it!) made me feel like I am capable of anything I put my mind to. Finally, I learned how much I love my family and that no matter the situation, I am glad they are with me.
P: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
J: Stop trying to predict and control where your life will go. Your future looks like nothing you can imagine. Go with the flow more. And yes, you can do it.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
J: Being a woman means that you have a long list of expectations to live up to, and many of them are contradictory. However, being a woman means you are also powerful and capable.