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I am very fortunate to have the opportunity, through my work, to make a difference in the lives of girls in our community. The positive power of my contribution often gets lost in the struggles and challenges I experience in running a non-profit organization, especially in these turbulent times. But, here they continue to come....these girls...to be supported in their goals, to be encouraged to reach further for their dreams and to choose wisely by the committed and talented staff I work with at Girls Incorporated. They are the reminders, the touchstones, if you will, of why I have continued along this path these past fourteen years.
 When I lose sight of the “big picture" because of a fiscal challenge I am working overtime to overcome for example, and begin to feel overwhelmed, along comes one of the girls, with "her story". Inevitably, her story is so compelling, her need for our encouraging environment so great, that I get reinvigorated and tackle that challenge with a renewed sense of urgency and an even stronger commitment to the mission and vision of the work.
The rate of burn out in this field is pretty high. The research tells us that Executive Directors and CEO's don't typically take another position as head of an organization once they leave. It is certainly understandable! The pressures are tremendous, the responsibilities huge, the work day is long and erratic and the challenges endless; however the pay is often low and the standard job "perks" are left to our corporate, for-profit counterparts.
 However, in this line of work, the perks are of a different variety. The work is connected to changing girls' lives, for the better. Seeing a girl graduate from high school, be the first in her family to go to college, become a US Navy Rescue Swimmer, graduate from Harvard School of Law, reach her goal, whatever that may be, these are the perks of this work.
The mission of our organization is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold, however, in the final analysis, it is the girls who provide me the inspiration to get up in the morning, approach my work as the gift that it truly is and experience a deep sense of gratitude for being included in their lives. Thank you for inviting me to stop and consider this aspect of my life.
Teri Bordenave
President and CEO of
Girls Incorporated of the Greater Capital Region
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