My mother is my hero – and she can be yours, too

Growing up, I never fully understood why my mom was flying all over the country, speaking about a court case she had been involved in back in high school.

I knew about the articles and the case itself, but I didn’t truly grasp the impact it had – on her, or on others. That changed when I was in high school and attended a convention, where I saw firsthand how people reacted to my mom.

Then one day, I was sitting in American History class, flipping through my textbook – and there she was, my mom. My teachers were stunned when they realized who she was. To them, she was the coolest mom in the class. To me, she was just…Mom. But when I had to write a paper about someone famous, at least that assignment was an easy one.

My mom has always taught me to stand up for what I believe in.

Now, she’s helping students across the country do the same. She believes that your right to free speech shouldn’t end at the schoolhouse gate. It’s still an ongoing fight – but it’s one she deeply believes in. And more importantly, she believes in you.

She started this Foundation to help be a voice for students who were going through the same thing that she went through years ago. She wants to help educate students on their options and their resources, but most importantly, she wants to empower them to find their voices when they have been silenced.

I got to grow up with the coolest mom. Thank you for appreciating her – and for seeing what it took me far too long to fully understand.