To someone I look up to

Today I wanted to take some time to write a very special post about a person that I admire and look up to not only as a mentor, but as a person and a friend. I have only known this person for a few short months, but in that amount of time she has changed my outlook on more things than she knows.

This blog post is dedicated to Dawn. I met Dawn a few months ago when I started working on a new team at work. She was leading the team and the girl who was working under her quit. I didn't have much work on the team I was originally hired for so I started helping her out. Honestly, once I started working on the team with her my thoughts about work completely shifted. I went from being completely miserable and bored out of my mind to genuinely excited about coming to work again. We work on a cancer treatment for patients with a very specific type of lung cancer (the FDA just approved it last Friday which is a big deal and a very exciting feeling for all of us that work on it). Dawn is honestly one of (if not the best) bosses I have ever had. I have learned so much from her, but she doesn't micromanage or question everything I do. There is honestly nothing worse for me than micromanaging. She has given me a renewed sense of passion and excitement for what we do, because at the end of the day we are partly responsible for a patient's life being extended when they thought they didn't stand a chance. She has the most positive attitude all the time, even when the work gets really stressful (something I'm still trying to learn more from her). Essentially she is one of the most well-liked people in the office, and we would all be sad if she ever left the agency.

But it's more than just a working relationship. I feel at ease just from walking into her office and sitting on her couch. We have become really good friends, and I can honestly say that whenever I do get married she will not only be invited, but there will be a very special dance for her and I to "Show me Love" by Robyn S which has become one of our many jokes.

Her attitude toward life is amazing. Though I can't claim to know that much about her and her background, I do know that she has faced some hardship in life. Yet despite it all she is the person that everyone wants to be around. Lately she has been going through a pretty hellish time at work (literally has not had a day off in weeks, works every weekend, and even worked through the hurricane that NYC just experienced). I wish there was more that I could do for her to help ease her workload, and I hope she knows how much I look up to her and what she means to me.

So to one of the most amazing women I think I will ever be lucky enough to cross paths with, and someone that I am so happy to call my friend......This shot of Jameson is for you!