An Unexpected Friend Bailey Morledge

Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

Day in, day out; week after week; year after year. She clocks-in and proceeds to a colorful room full of crying babies and children who have long overstayed their welcome. This controlled-chaos environment, however, doesn’t even faze her. She has become accustomed to her double-life as tireless employee and devoted mother. As her shift continues and the room begins to clear out, she makes hourly phone calls home. “Estas bien?” she asks, concerned-mother evident in her tone. After a consistent response of “Si mama, te amo,” she is able to return again to her second priority.

I will never forget my first day on the job. I was unsure and frightened, second-guessing myself and wanting more than anything to turn around and walk right back out the child-sized rainbow door that probably should have read, “Welcome to Bailey’s First Job: Disaster.” I stopped myself. I considered the extensive interview process I had already endured, the mountain of application paperwork, and the commitment I had made. This was an opportunity I had no choice but to face.

As I entered the fluorescent lit room that smelled distinctly of diapers and Play-Doh, all...