When I was young, my dad used to say to me, “Claire, you can be anything you want to be when you grow up. Maybe that career doesn’t even exist yet. You can create it.”

And I believed him. Why wouldn’t I?

As a kid, his support showed up in everyday ways, getting donuts for breakfast each morning, dancing in The Nutcracker, sitting on a bucket to catch me, and helping me with my homework. His faith in me gave me the confidence to dance, pitch, and dream big.

So, when I told him I planned to start my own high school for girls, he didn’t look at me like I was crazy. He simply said, “Great! How can I help?”

While I built and ran that school, I often thought back to his words: “Maybe it isn’t created yet.”

 And there I was…creating it. He was right.

For three years, I poured myself into that dream every day. Founding a leadership academy for girls felt like my life’s work. It gave me purpose and pride.

And when I decided that path was no longer right for me, my dad’s words came back again: “You can be anything you want to be.”

That reminder gave me the courage to pivot.

My dream changed, but my dad’s love and support didn’t. From the first inkling to the last day of graduation, he was there every step of the way.

His belief and love is a gift. 

I am forever grateful.