HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO BEHIND THE WOMAN, I'M YOUR HOST, DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGERS.

ON TONIGHT'S EPISODE I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TWO WOMEN WHO ARE HELPING VETERANS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK MARIANA ROSSNI SERAO AND MAITHREYEE DUBE ARE BOTH HELPING VETERANS REACCLIMATE TO SOCIETY AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM SERVICE.

AND THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH MORE.

GATHER YOUR FAMILY, ACCEPTED A TEXT TO YOUR FRIENDS.

THEY WILL THOUGHT WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

>> THANK YOU.

>> I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO START WITH TALKING ABOUT YOUR ROLES IN SUPPORTING VETERANS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND WHO YOU ARE IN THAT CAPACITY.

>> SO I WORK FOR CLEAR PATH FOR VETERANS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS VETERANS TRANSITIONING INTO CIVILIAN LIFE.

I'M THE SENIOR MANAGER FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CANINE PROGRAM.

CLEAR PATH FOR VETERANS DOES A LOT OF PROGRAMS RELATED TO ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS, BUT MY ROLE IS ON THE CANINE.

>> THAT IS REALLY POWERFUL.

>> AND YOU HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST WITH YOU HERE.

>> THIS IS TITAN.

>> HI, TITAN.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

>> TITAN IS TIRED.

>> TITAN IS ALMOST TWO YEARS OLD.

HE IS A SERVICE DOG IN TRAINING FOR OUR PROGRAM.

AND HE IS ALMOST READY TO BE PAIRED WITH HIS CLIENT.

>> OH WOW.

>> SO WHEN HE IS READY, HE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST A VETERAN TO GET TO THAT SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE OVERWHELMED IN PUBLIC OR THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SOME SITUATIONS THAT THEY NEED JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ASSISTANCE ON BRINGING THEM DOWN INTO A COMFORT LEVEL.

SO THEY'RE CONSIDERED PTSD DOGS.

IT TAKES A VERY SPECIAL DOG.

>> WE'LL GET MORE ON THAT.

TITAN, YOU RELAX, HOWEVER HE WANTS TO SPEND HIS TIME.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN YOUR ROLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUST LIKE MARIANA IS HELPING VETERANS, I'M AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY WHERE WE WANT TO BE THE BEST PLACE FOR VETERANS.

AND WITHIN THAT, I WORK AT THE DANIEL OWE INSTITUTE FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES.

AND WHAT WE DO IS SERVE THOSE THAT ARE PLANNING THEIR TRANSITION FROM MILITARY LIFE, THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY SEPARATED AND THE MILITARY SPOUSES.

WE SUPPORT ALL OF THEM.

AND IN THAT WE OFFER, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE THINGS WHERE WE ARE OFFERING THEM, IF THEY WANT TO TRANSITION BACK INTO THE CORPORATE LIFE, THEN WE PROVIDE THEM THE TRAINING TO COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT THEIR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND.

AS WELL AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING, WHICH IS A BREAD AND BUTTER, THAT'S HOW THEY GOT STARTED.

AND WE ALSO HAVE, JUST, YOU KNOW, DUE TO COMPLEMENT AND WORK WITH MARIAN, WE WORK WITH THE REST OF LIVES NEEDS.

>> WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF GUESTS ON THIS SHOW THAT HAVE BEEN VETERANS AND TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.

BUT WHAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS HOW DID THE BOTH OF YOU FIND YOUR WAY TO THE PATH THAT YOU ARE ON RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS GOOD LUCK I THINK.

I THINK JUST, AS EVERYTHING IS, IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND KNOWING PEOPLE AND DOING GOOD WORK AND MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND LASTING CONNECTIONS.

SO I WAS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ALREADY, AND I HAD DONE SOME CONSULTING WORK AND SOMEBODY WHO WORKS WITH THE INSTITUTE AT THE TIME, SAT DOWN WITH ME AT THIS ONE EVENT WHERE I WAS VOLUNTEERING MY TIME.

AND HE SAID COME WORK WITH ME.

AND SO A PLIED AND THEY HIRED ME TO BUILD THE SERVICES FOR PROGRAMS THAT THEY OFFER TO THIS AUDIENCE.

THAT'S HOW I GOT STARTED.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU?

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING?

>> IT.

>> IT WAS PURE LUCK.

I TAUGHT FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS IN THE UNIVERSITY SETTING TEACHING ANIMAL SETTING CLASSES AND IN 2017, I WAS REQUESTED BY A STUDENT TO GET MORE EXPOSURE ON SERVICE DOGS.

THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO FOR HER CAREER AND I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO HELP HER GET INTRURPS.

AND BY LUCK I GOT CONTACTED BY A SERVICE DOG ORGANIZATION IN THE MIDWEST THAT WANTED TO BRING THEIR PROGRAM INTO THE UNIVERSITY.

SO WE CREATED A CLASS THAT WE WOULD PAIR SENIOR STUDENTS IN THE ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT WITH PUPPIES AND THEY LIVE WITH THOSE STUDENTS FOR TWO SEMESTERS AND COLLEGE AT THE TIMING, TAKING THE BUS, GOING TO CLASS.

SITTING AND WATCHING TEDIOUS CLASSES AND EXCITING CLASSES AND MY JOB WAS TO ASSIST THOSE STUDENTS AND UNDERSTAND WHO THEY WERE SERVING.

I KNEW THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THE ANIMAL TRAINING PART OF IT, THEY WERE ANIMAL CENTRIC PEOPLE BUT FOR ME, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHO THEY WERE SERVING.

AT THE TIME I WAS SERVING A POPULATION OF VETERANS AND CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SO I NEEDED THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AUTISM AND WHAT IS PTSD AND IT GAVE ME THAT AHA MOMENT.

THIS IS WHY I'M HERE AFTER A WHILE I MOVED TO UPSTATE NEW YORK AND FOUND CLEAR PATH THAT SERVES NOT JUST VETERANS BUT THE SERVICE DOG PROGRAM AND ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS AND IT'S REWARDING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WAS LUCK, JUST LIKE YOU.

>> IT WAS LUCK.

WE'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW BOTH OF YOU BUT I THINK IT TAKES A SPECIAL TYPE OF WOMAN TO WORK IN SERVICE OF OTHERS.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT HAS INFORMED YOUR LIVES, ON WHAT HAS BEEN AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU THINK PREPARED YOU FOR THIS WORK?

>> I'M AN IMMIGRANT, SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE-- WE WANT TO SEE THE GOOD IN PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

SO I COME IN.

I CAME IN WITHOUT KNOWING ANYBODY.

EVERY COMMUNITY THAT I GET IN, IT'S HARD TO COME IN.

AND TO FEEL ACCEPTED.

NOT THAT I'VE EVER HAD ANY ISSUES LIKE THAT, BUT I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THERE IS THAT STEP OF FINDING YOURSELF AND FEELING THAT YOU BELONG.

>> BECAUSE WHERE DID YOU EMIGRATE FROM?

>> BRAZIL.

SO I ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2009.

AND IT'S ALWAYS THAT SENSE OF I WANT TO BELONG.

AND I THINK THAT INFORMS HOW YOU WANT TO TREAT EVERYBODY ELSE, TOO, BECAUSE I'M TRYING, I'M TRYING-- I DON'T WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO FEEL LIKE I FEEL, EVEN IF IT'S BECAUSE-- NOBODY NEEDS TO TREAT ME IN A WAY TO WANT TO BE FELT GOOD ABOUT MYSELF WHERE I GO.

SO I THINK THAT DRIVES HOW I WORK WITH MY STAFF OR WORK WITH OUR GUESTS OR SO ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> A COUPLE THINGS COME TO MIND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REFLECTING ON WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT?

WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW SOMETHING THAT MOTIVATED YOU AS A CHILD MAKES YOU WHO YOU ARE AS AN ADULT.

MY TWO OLDER BROTHERS TOOK ME UNDER THEIR WING-- I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY KNEW TO DO THIS.

WE WERE JUST A FEW YEARS APART FROM EACH OTHER.

WE GREW UP IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE SOCIETY, AND THEY SAID, WELL, IF WE GET TO DO IT, SO DOES SHE.

SO THEY WERE MY EARLIEST ADVOCATES.

THEY WERE MY FIRST ADVOCATES.

SO NOW I TRY TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING HIDDEN IN THEM THAT CAN BE BROUGHT OUT.

SO THAT, YOU KNOW, I USE MY SKILLS, MY KNOWLEDGE, MY PASSION , TO DO THAT FOR OTHERS, YOU KNOW.

I DO THIS FOR MY COLLEAGUES, MY FRIENDS.

THE COMMUNITY I SERVE.

AND ALL OF US TOGETHER THEN END UP SERVING THE VETERANS.

SO-- AND THE SPOUSES.

>> THAT IS FANTASTIC.

LET'S LOOK AT HOW BOTH THESE WOMEN ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO SUPPORT VETERANS HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

TODAY WE GAVE A TOUR TO A VETERAN WHO WAS VISITING FROM DOWN SOUTH.

HE HAS JUST LEARNED ABOUT THE INSTITUTE AND ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.

AWARENESS THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES, THEY COME TO US FOR A SPECIFIC PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY HEARD ABOUT.

WE HAVE GOTTEN BETTER AT GOING BACK TO THEM AND SAY I'M GLAD YOU FOUND US.

NOW LET'S REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS YOUR ACTUAL NEED BECAUSE WHAT YOU CAME TO US FOR MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST ANSWER.

AND BECAUSE WE ARE GRANT FUNDED, WE FEEL A BIT OF OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THAT GRANT FUNDING AS WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE EVE TALKED ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY BE WHO YOU ARE AND SORT OF THAT CONSISTENCY IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO WILL HELP.

SO IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY IS FOCUSING ON HOW ARE WE BEING AWARE OF WHO IS IN THIS SPACE?

HOW ARE WE BEING AWARE OF WHAT ARE THE NEEDS IN THAT SPACE?

AND BEING AWARE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RESOURCE ARE AVAILABLE?

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU SAW ME DO WITH THE TEAM TODAY IS TO SAY LET'S WORK WITH WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO INFLUENCE.

LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT DO WE HAVE, WHAT CAN BE INFLUENCED, WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US.

LIKE PUTTING ALL THAT TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IN THE COMMUNITY IS JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE THAT WE SERVE HERE THROUGH THE INSTITUTE, IS JUST TOO EASY.

IT'S TOO EASY TO SAY THANK YOU WITHOUT HAVING TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE THEY COME TO US, THE VETERANS, THE MILITARY SPOUSES, THE SERVICE MEMBERS, THEY COME TO US AND SAY WE CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE HERE FOR US.

I SAID YES, WE ARE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEARNED TO SAY HOW CAN WE HELP YOU.

TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU WITH YOUR TRANSITION.

THAT'S THE WAY WE THANK THEM.

AND WE ARE SO PRIVILEGED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT KNOWLEDGE, TO KNOW WHAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED IS NOT JUST TO BE TREATED WITH A HAND SHAKE TO SAY THANK YOU BUT RATHER TO SAY WHAT ARE YOU GOING THROUGH?

TELL US YOUR EXPERIENCE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

BEING A LEADER, ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IS IN BELLING RELATIONSHIPS, INVEST IN GETTING TO KNOW YOU, GETTING TO KNOW WHAT YOUR TALENTS ARE, GETTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CHALLENGES ARE.

AND WE AS HUMAN BEINGS SAY IF THIS IS A CHALLENGE, I'M GOING TO OVERCOME IT.

DO YOU THOUGH?

DO YOU NEED TO?

SO COMPLETELY?

LIKE WITHOUT HELP?

NO, RIGHT.

IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.

SO EVEN IN THE BUSINESS THAT I RUN, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN WORKING JUST WITH INDIVIDUAL LEADERS IS HOW MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL IT CAN BE IN AN ORGANIZATION IF WE GOT TO WORK WITH THE LEADERSHIP TOGETHER AS A GROUP TO SAY USE EACH OTHER TO CREATE THAT SYNERGY, NOT ONLY TO MEET THE ORGANIZATION'S GOALS, BUT THEN TO RECOGNIZE AND BRING OUT THE BEST IN OTHERS.

>> TODAY AT CLEAR PATH FOR VETERANS, IN CHITTENANGO NEW YORK, WE PROVIDE OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE OUR FACILITIES.

TODAY WE HAD STUDENTS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN CAZENOVIA SEVENTH GRADERS DO A VOLUMER TO PROGRAM WHERE THEY ASSIST WITH OUR TRAILS, CLEANING OUR TRAILS BUT WE WANT TO EDUCATE THEM TO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CANINE PROGRAM.

TO TRAIN A SERVICE DOG IS A PROCESS THAT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT TWO YEARS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOG GOES INTO PUBLIC, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DOG NEEDS TO BE CALM, OBEDIENT AND WE CALL IT INVISIBLE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DOG GOES IN AND OUT WITHOUT CALLING ATTENTION SO BETWEEN 8 MONTHS AND 18 MONTHS WE PLACE THE DOGS WITH GUARDIAN FAMILIES WHERE THEY ASSIST US BY FOSTERING THE DOGS THROUGHOUT THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

WE INVITE THOSE FAMILIES TO COME ONCE A WEEK TO OUR FACILITY FOR TRAINING CLASSES AND WE HELP THEM THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS ON GETTING THAT DOG READY FOR THE NEXT STAGE, WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL INTENSIVE TRAININGS, WHERE THEY COME TO THE FACILITY AND STAY WITH US AND WORK WITH OUR SPECIALIZED TRAINERS DAY TO DAY TO LEARN THOSE SPECIAL TASKS THAT ARE NEEDED TO BE PLACED WITH A VETERAN.

EVERY TIME I PLACE A PUPPY WITH A FOSTER TO FOSTER A DOG IN OUR PROGRAM, WE ALWAYS HAVE THE CONVERSATION OF 2 VOLUNTEERS TO SAY I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOUR DOG BACK AFTER I'M BONDING FOR 18 MONTHS AND WE ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE CONVERSATION THAT ONCE THEY ARE OUR VOLUNTEERS, THEY'RE CONSIDERED PART OF OUR CLEAR PATH FAMILY AND THAT MEANS THAT WE INVITE THEM TO COME OVER FOR ALL OF OUR EVENTS AND TO ACTUALLY MEET SOME OF OUR VETERANS THAT HAVE DOGS.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE DOING THE WORK CORRECTLY BECAUSE ONCE YOU MEET ONE OF OUR VETERANS, ONE OF OUR CLIENTS THAT HAS BEEN PLACED WITH A DOG, AND HEAR THEIR STORIES ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO, SIMPLE THINGS LIKE GOING TO THE GROSS ARE I STORE, FOR ME IT'S VERY SIMPLE TO GO IN AND OUT OF A GROCERY STORE.

BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE, THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN YEARS BUT NOW THAT THEY HAVE A DOG, THEY CAN GO IN AND WE GIVE THEM THAT CONFIDENCE BACK.

OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE BACK BONES OF OUR ORGANIZATION SO WE REALLY PRIDE OURSELVES WITH TRYING TO MAKE THEM PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE RECOGNIZED.

I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF 35 DOGS CORRECTLY.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE STAFF FOR 35 BECAUSE I DON'T NEED IT.

I NEED THOSE DOGS TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, OUT WITH FAMILIES, AND LEARNING HOW TO LIVE IN A FAMILY SETTING AND NOT LEARNING HOW TO LIVE IN OUR FACILITY SETTING.

HERE THEY LEARN THEIR TASKS.

IN THEIR HOME THEY LEARN HOW TO LIVE WITH A VETERAN IN THE FUTURE.

SO IN THE PAST, I HAVE DONE THIS PROGRAM WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WHAT I SEE AS THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS CREATING EMPATHY, INCREASING EMPATHY AND AWAS IRNESS TO INDIVIDUALS-- AND AWARENESS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE IN PUBLIC WITH A SERVICE DOG, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT JOURNEY THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

SO WHEN YOU SEE A GUIDE DOG, A PERSON THAT HAS A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND THEY'RE WALKING WITH A GUIDE DOG HOLDING THE HARNESS, YOU KNOW THAT PERSON NEEDS THE DOG TO CROSS THE STREET AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE A DOG WITH A PLAIN SERVICE DOG WITH A VEST, YOU DON'T KNOW IF THAT PERSON IS GOING THROUGH A DISABILITY THAT ENTAILS ANXIETY OR MAYBE A SEIZURE ALERT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND DO SIMPLE TASKS.

WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF OUR DOGS.

WE ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OUR MEMBERS BECAUSE BECAUSE WE ARE NOW A NATIONAL PROGRAM SO WE JUST HAVE OUR LAST PLACEMENT A VETERAN FROM OREGON AND WE ACTUALLY JUST RECEIVED-- HE JUST CAME BACK AFTER THREE MONTHS AND TALKING ABOUT SEEING THE JOY IN A VETERAN WITH THEIR DOG HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

>> I WANTED TO GO TO NEXT, AFTER WATCHING THAT, IS KNOW MORE ABOUT WHO YOU ARE.

AND SO TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU BOTH ARE INVOLVED IN THAT KEEP YOU CENTERED IN THIS IDEA OF SUPPORTING OTHERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SO MUCH TO GIVE IS WHAT DRIVES MY PASSION, RIGHT?

THAT'S HOW I PUT MY PASSION INTO THE WORK, INTO THE DAY, WHETHER IT IS FAMILY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A SON.

WHETHER IT IS CHEERING MY HUSBAND ON BECAUSE HE IS A BUDDING AUTHOR.

MY TEAM THAT I WORK WITH, MY COLLEAGUES AT THE INSTITUTE.

JUST ABSOLUTE LOVE-- I TELL ME TEAM SO OFTEN, I COME HERE BECAUSE OF YOU.

AND I MEAN IT, RIGHT?

I THINK THE FACT THAT WE SERVE THE VETERANS AND THE SPOUSES, THE EASY PART OF WHAT WE DO.

TO WORK TOGETHER IS WHAT MAKES IT WORK AND HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER BEST TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN EACH OTHER.

I DO THAT.

AND ENCOURAGED BY MY PROFESSORS.

I ALSO STARTED A BUSINESS IN LEADERSHIP COACHING.

SO AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT FOCUSING ON BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, I SEEM TO SORT OF GRAVITATE TOWARD THAT ALL THE TIME.

I CREDIT THAT PRINCIPLE IN MY BROTHERS AND IGNITING THAT SPIRIT IN ME.

>> RIGHT.

EMANCIPATION.

EMANCIPATION.

MARIANA, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> WORKING WITH STUDENTS FOR SO LONG AS I WORKED BEFORE AT THE UNIVERSITY, THE MOST APPALLING THING FOR ME IS THAT THEY WOULD COME INTO MY OFFICE.

I HAD TO ADVISE UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING, HELPING THEM WITH THEIR CLASSES AND FIGURE OUT NAVIGATE THROUGH COLLEGE LIFE.

AND I STARTED MY FIRST YEAR AS I STARTED AS AN ADVISER, I HAD 55 STUDENTS.

THAT'S A LOT.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT WAS CLEAR TO ME AS THEY WOULD POP IN AND OUT OF MY OFFICE, HOW DIFFERENT THEIR BACKGROUND WAS.

LIKE YOU HAD ONE STUDENT THAT SAID LIKE I WOULD SAY WHAT DO YOU NEED I'M ALL GOOD STRAIGHT AS, EVERYTHING IS FINE.

GOING TO ITALY OVERSEAS AND THE NEXT ONE SAYS I HAVE THREE JOBS.

AND I ALWAYS FELT LIKE IT WASN'T FAIR TO FOR ME TO JUDGE THE STUDENTS JUST BY THEIR GRADES.

I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW I COULD HELP THEM ON THE OUTSIDE, TOO.

AND I THINK THAT I DO THAT WITH MY STAFF NOW.

SO BY NATURE, WORKING WITH ANIMAL TRAINING AND YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING TO GET THE YOUNGER STAFF COMING UP TO YOU.

SO THERE IS A GREAT OPTION FOR MENTORSHIP.

SO I WANT IN THEM WHAT I WANTED FOR MYSELF.

KIND OF WHAT IS THE LEADER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.

AND I HAD GREAT LEADERS, DON'T GET ME WRONG.

BUT I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL, THE BALANCE BETWEEN FAMILY AND WORK AND KICKING THEM OUT OF MY OFFICE WHEN THEY WANT TO STAY AND KEEP WORKING AND WORK WORKING.

LIKE YOU NEED TO GO HOME AND DO YOUR OWN THING AND HAVE YOUR OWN LIFE.

>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS-- HOW DO YOU BALANCE HOME LIFE, YOU KNOW, ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLIENTS MAYBE THAT YOU HAVE THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO HOW YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF YOURSELVES.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.

HOW ARE Y'ALL TAKING CARE OF YOURSELVES SO YOU CAN POUR INTO OTHERS?

>> JUST GOOD OLD EXERCISE, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS.

I THINK HAVE YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ONE ANSWER FOR ONE PERSON EVEN.

I HAVE HAD TO EVOLVE I GOT A TRAINER A DOZEN YEARS AGO AND AS WE AGE, THAT CHANGES, AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO GET A TEAM A FEW YEARS AGO TO GO WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S THE ABILITY TO KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

>> YOU CAN'T?

>> RIGHT?

SO YOU HAVE TO GET THE TEAM AND IT'S NOT EASY, I THINK AS MOMS, AS WOMEN SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EASY TO ASK FOR HELP.

BUT I THINK I HAVE LEARNED THAT WE-- TO RECOGNIZE IT.

>> AND IT'S OKAY.

>> YES.

>> IT'S OKAY.

>> RECOGNIZE IT.

AND I HAD TO CHANGE WHAT EXERCISE MEANT.

I HAD TO CHANGE WHAT I LOVE-- I LOVE TO EAT.

I LOVE TO COOK.

>> I DO, TOO.

IT'S PART OF MY PROBLEM.

>> COOKING IS THE WAY I TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

COOKING FOR OTHERS IS ONE WAY I TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, AND READ.

I THINK WALKING HELPS WITH CONNECTING WITH NATURE.

THERE IS JUST SO MUCH TO THAT.

SO THERE ARE MANY THINGS.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS I DO CONSISTENTLY.

>> YOU HAVE A ROTATION.

>> YES.

>> I LOVE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SAID.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> EXERCISE IS NOT ON MY LIST.

IT'S ON MY LIST.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY-- >> I LOVE WHEN PEOPLE SHOW UP AND HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWER, THEY EXERCISE AND COOK AND I'M LIKE... >> I CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.

I HAVE TO BE NICE TO MYSELF THAT WHAT I'VE DONE TODAY IS ENOUGH BECAUSE IN MY HEAD, I ALWAYS GET, TEENAGE MAGAZINE CHECK MARKS OF ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF I DON'T DO THEM ALL, THEN I FAILED.

IT'S NOT THAT.

SO FOR ME RIGHT NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT?

SO I CAN'T DO MUCH IF I DON'T GET TO THE STAGE THAT I WANT TO BE, SO I LOVE JOURNALING.

I REALLY ENJOY JOURNALING.

AND IT'S NICE TO WORK WITH DOGS BECAUSE THEY'RE THERAPEUTIC.

AND AT CLEAR PATH, WE HAVE A REALLY BIG CAMPUS AND WE HAVE TRAILS THAT WE CAN TAKE AND SO WE CAN-- WE TAKE WALKS AND I NEED NATURE.

NATURE REALLY HELPS ME.

AND THAT WAS MY EXERCISE.

BUT I DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE EXERCISE.

I DID FOR THE NATURE AND THE MENTAL PART OF FEELING NATURE.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROLES THAT YOU ALL ARE PLAYING AND HOW YOU ARE EMPOWERING AND MENTORING AND SHOWING OTHERS THE WAY, WHAT WOULD YOU OFFER TO THOSE WATCHING TONIGHT IF THEY ARE CONSIDERING WAYS TO SUPPORT OARSZ IN OUR COMMUNITY?

BE WILLING TO ASK FOR HELP AND OFFER HELP.

I KNOW THAT-- I CAN HEAR MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ASKING FOR HELP.

IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.

BUT I THINK USE THE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIVES THAT ARE LIKE, I'M COMING TO HELP YOU.

IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO, LET ME KNOW.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE IN OFFERING OUR HELP, LIKE INTENTIONALLY OFFERING OUR HELP BECAUSE, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY OF CLIENTS, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR THEM TO ASK FOR HELP, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HARD.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL AND PROACTIVE SO I THINK IF I CAN GIVE AN ADVICE, IT WOULD BE PROACTIVE ON OFFERING THE HELP.

>> THAT IS SO GOOD.

>> I THINK THAT BEING INTENTIONAL, AS YOU MENTIONED, AS WELL AS WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT DOING?

AND YOU KNOW THIS PERSON, RIGHT, THAT YOU ARE WANTING TO HELP.

SO OFFER WHAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOOD AT DOING.

BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST KNOW YOU NEED TO BREAK BREAD TOGETHER AND SPEND TIME TOGETHER.

I'VE ASKED PEOPLE-- I CAN PUT MY GLOVES ON AND COME CLEAN YOUR BATS ROOM IF THAT IS GOING TO HELP YOU IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR BATHROOM.

SO IT'S WHAT CAN YOU DO TO LIFT THAT PERSON'S DAY.

BEING INTENTIONAL.

AND THE OTHER PART THAT, IN MOMENTS THAT I KNOW I PRACTICE AND I HELP OTHERS REMEMBER TO PRACTICE IS SERENITY.

LIKE WHAT DO YOU REALLY ACTUALLY HAVE INFLUENCE OVER AND SORT OF BEING ALL THAT YOU CAN BE.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT'S STRONG.

>> THAT IS STRONG.

>> I WANTED TO THANK MARIANA AND MAITHREYEE FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING ON BEHIND THE WOMAN, AND ALLOWING US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR JOURNEYS AND THE WAY AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW TONIGHT'S EPISODE AGAIN, OR WATCH PAST SEASONS OF THE SHOW, GO TO WCNY.ORG/BEHIND THE WOMAN.

MY NAME IS DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGERS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE BEHIND THE WOMAN TEAM THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.