Work Hard & Learn From Your Mistakes
By Allison Heitzenrater
Who is your role model? Why?
My biggest role model is my mom. She is such a strong woman and she puts her all into everything she does, especially work. She is always going above and beyond so she can reach her full potential.
She has taught me to do the same. She shared with me that when I am not working my hardest at something, I am missing out on reaching my own full potential. Because of her, it is a goal of mine to always do my very best and work hard, and when I don’t, to reflect on my performance and see what I can do better in the future.
What are you most proud of in your life?
I am most proud of my ability to always keep a positive outlook and find the good aspects of every situation. My habit of always pointing out and finding the positives is one thing that keeps me going. Finding the good in the negative helps make situations better and less stressful.
What are you passionate about?
Quarantining due to COVID-19 gave me quite a bit of time to try new things - and one of the things I got into was cooking and baking. I spent lots of time trying new, healthy recipes and sharing them with my family. I am passionate about cooking because I find it interesting and I enjoy fueling my body with healthy foods that taste good. This is also a skill that I will continue to benefit from for the rest of my life.
What makes you feel confident?
I feel most confident when I take care of myself and make time for self-care. For example, I am most confident when I get dressed up in a cute outfit and put on makeup for myself. I have found that when I feel that I look put together, I am happier and more productive overall.
Additionally, I think it is important to take time for self care, whether by taking time out of your day to read a book, simply doing a face mask, or painting your nails.
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
“Be so rooted in yourself that nobody’s absence or presence can disturb your inner peace.”
I find this quote inspiring because it makes you think about your relationship with yourself. It is so important to care for yourself and be there for yourself because you cannot rely on others to find your own happiness or success. You are responsible for yourself and have the power to do whatever you put your mind to.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could give advice to my younger self, I would tell myself to learn from my mistakes. Everyone learns from their mistakes, but there are usually extra steps you can take in order to learn even more from the situation. I was always scared to reach out to others and take these extra steps, so I missed out on quite a few learning opportunities. I don’t plan to keep making that mistake!
If you’d like to connect with Allison, you can find her on Instagram: @ally.heitzenrater.
