Today begins the first of a bi-weekly blog post featuring an individual who participated in my project We all Have a Story.  I've spoken about the project in previous posts so click here  to find out more about it. 

Sarah Rosenberry is a music teacher at Plank Road North Elementary School in Webster, NY. As with most of my subjects, she responded to my invitation out of curiosity, but also with an interest in trying something new, different and challenging.  This seems to be the norm for this young woman who is passionate and vibrant about so many things in her life.  From her work teaching music to hundreds of children every day to competing in triathalons, sweating it out with Crossfit and volunteering as a Webster Fire Fighter, Sarah pushes herself to do her very best and always tries to improve, something she's learned from her father Jim Mossey. Jim competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid as a Luger.  She admits that his competitive nature as well as the desire to push through a challenge are traits that were passed down from father to daughter and he continues to be one of her biggest supporters and certainly her #1 fan! (man on the bike)

In her own words...

 "He is my inspiration, my coach, my friend, and my dad.  Because of him, I have learned to have the drive and perseverance to set goals, then achieve them.  Whether it's forming my own band, teaching music to 500 students, finishing a triathlon, or becoming a firefighter, I am who I am because of my dad."

My last blog post talked about the photography project I've been working on for about 6 months titled We All Have a Story. I wanted to add to it because it's now exhibiting at the Webster Public Library throughout the month of May and I couldn't be more pleased with the final results.

My good friend Lori Coleman of Lori and Erin Photography helped me put up the display which I'd never done before.  Her graphic design background really helped in pulling it all together and I am truly grateful to her.  It looks fantastic!

Another friend, Kathy Pieters of Kathy Pieters Photography is responsible for my beautiful headshot that accompanies the project description.  She is a lovely, funny, talented woman and I'm blessed to have her as a friend.

The opening reception was amazing!  Family, friends, coworkers from Webster Thomas HS, neighbors, the people who were the subjects in the project and their family and friends helped make up a nice group of attendees to celebrate what I feel is a truly remarkable, unique, touching exhibit.  It was so fun to see the subjects getting their first look at other participants photographs.  There were hugs, lots of smiles and even tears (not just mine) as people wandered from image to image.

I want to thank so many people (am I at the Oscars?) for helping me with this exhibit, from the subjects themselves to my loving and supportive husband and daughters, to the school district and the library.  This project has changed me not only as a photographer, but as a human being.

My hope is that people will come to view this exhibit and walk away with the thought that the stories they viewed and read about are the stories that we all share.  By getting to know each other better, we can all grow to have a deeper understanding of one another and, in turn, we all can become better people.

Make sure to visit the  WHEC-TV 10 story!