Story 72 - Meet the Mickells: An NHRI Family
For some families, NHRI is a multi-generational experience.
The Mickells family has given countless hours, energy and support to NHRI through the years and have been true difference makers in more ways than one. And what makes this impact all the more special? Doing it together as a family. Dan has served as an NHRI TA (Teaching Assistant) and has been a long-time member of the Board of Directors. His wife Tiffany has continuously supported NHRI events, and each of their three children have been a part of NHRI whether it be as mentees, mentors, class TAs, or all of the above!
Dan and Tiffany loved inviting all of their children’s mentors and mentees over for family dinner. In addition to participating in the NHRI events, this was one of their favorite NHRI memories. They would eat, enjoy each other's company, and play “get to know you” games, which was incredibly impactful. As Tiffany shares, “we got to see the mentors and our kids interact together and we got to have a relationship with them too, which was also very important.”
A lot of their family values can be traced back to the teachings of NHRI concepts. Like many NHRI alumni, Dan keeps his Priceless People on his desk today. “It was probably the one book we all kept after college.”
These traits and teachings are synonymous with the both of them as people, leaders, and parents. When reflecting on growing up in their house, Peytie shared the following about her parents:“Both of them are leaders in what they do in their fields, so they got us into something that we could be leaders in. And that's helped us a lot growing up. I think back to high school, being a mentee, and how much I was able to know going into student council, or sports teams, or college applications. And none of those things would be possible without having the concepts that were foundational in NHRI classes and through mentee and mentor meetings.”
From coaching their children’s sports teams, being examples of leaders in their professional careers; Sydney, Peytie and Cole all shared examples of NHRI concepts they learned at home. All at one time, Sydney was a staff advisor and mentor, Peytie was a mentor, Cole was a mentee and Dan was a board member. This doesn’t include the years Sydney and Peytie were mentees. NHRI Bowling, ARD, and Fall Kickoff as an entire family is a noteworthy experience and one we are proud to be able to highlight. Peytie notes, “I think of my family when I think of NHRI, which I don't think a lot of people can think about for a college activity,”
“One of the biggest concepts that sticks out to me is the ripple effect, that was something at a young age my dad always talked about ... that one small thing you do could have an impact on another person. And then along with that the opportunity you have as an individual, to be a difference maker for someone else. I think we talked a lot about growing up as like, you know, who are your difference makers in your life? But then also, how can you be a difference maker for other people.”
“Intentional conversation - something that I think about all the time is what we always talk about, like hot buttons, and in a conversation, finding things that make people tick, and what’s something that somebody could talk about forever, and that they would love to talk about it.”
“The Bucket and the dipper. We talked about that a lot growing up. My dad was a coach for our sports teams and those concepts really came into play into those settings.”
“I think we as parents probably learned just as much as our kids did, from the mentors, from the workshops.”
“We’re all meant to be in relationships and all of the concepts center around relationship building, communication, and it’s things that you can use throughout your entire life. You know, it’s not like a math class, it’s not chemistry, it’s interpersonal communication, it’s investing in relationships. And that generates an incredible ripple effect in the world. And that’s what an NHRI is all about. And I think that’s what, you know, we strive for as parents is that we can be, you know, a difference maker for others.”
Today, September 7, 2024 is also a special day; it is Peytie’s mentor, Jacqueline O’Doherty’s wedding day! Jacqueline’s family is also a “NHRI family” who has also invested years in the program. Her sister, Elizabeth, was also a mentee and mentor, their mother, Patty a long time board member who is known for her humility, generosity, creativity and friendship. And, David is known to support every NHRI fundraiser there is!
Like the Mickells, there are many other “NHRI families” who are making a positive impact, one generation at a time.
