Story 49 - Megan and Sarah

At all times in our lives, we must have at least one person … a key person who cares about us … someone we care for ourselves. - William Glasser

Megan Hamsa Massey, Lakeview Project, 1983, reflects on her NHRI experience.

Dr. William Hall, co-founder of NHRI, said the presence of strong, positive relationships make a difference in people's ability to discover and develop their talents. NHRI believes the greatest resource is the human resource. Establishing positive human relationships is the best way to develop this resource.

Leadership mentors in NHRI are selected on the basis of their ability to positively influence the thoughts, feelings and behaviors of others. Parents and guardians no doubt invested many years in this same role. The process to become a mentor is long and rigorous. This is intentional, so that NHRI is able to maintain quality leadership in mentors.

The mentors provide support to the mentee and reveal their strengths and abilities to them. Dr. Hall mentioned that lasting, significant differences in human beings could only become a reality when one person invests time in another person on an individual basis.

The ultimate goal for mentees is to become most effective at making a difference in the lives of others. The leadership mentors’ job is to invest with the intention that they then turn to invest in others, creating a “ripple effect.”

I will always remember the  quote in Priceless People, “I am not who you think I am; I am not who I think I am; I am what I think you think I am.” Positive relationships reflect the importance of this statement.

I was involved in NHRI over 40 years ago in the Lakeview Project and loved my mentee, Sarah. She attended my wedding. One of my favorite memories was taking her to the capital to observe a legislative session. Senators on the floor were discussing a legislative bill. My mentee turned to me and whispered, "they are not very good listeners!"

The experiences I had as a mentor are ones I have remembered for a lifetime. The continuing education we received as mentors provided a book that I still reference today. I was able to reconnect with my mentee last spring and it was a heartwarming reunion. 

Participants in this program will not regret their decision. It will make them better humans in a world that needs more empathy and understanding.

Megan and Sarah on Megan’s wedding day

We are thrilled Megan and Sarah will be our 75th anniversary alumni panelists on Saturday, November 9. Alumni, mentors, mentees, family and friends are welcome to attend.

Megan Hamsa Massey and Sarah Teten Kanter were in the Lakeview Project in the early 1980's. Megan and Sarah, look forward to sharing how their NHRI mentoring relationship has turned into a lasting friendship. Their relationship reflects NHRI's commitment to investing in others. Both Megan and Sarah embody this positive approach in their personal and professional lives, often finding ways to uplift and empower those around them.

Megan Hamsa Massey is the author of Dear Megan: Letters on Life, Love, and Fragile X, which shares her journey raising two sons with Fragile X syndrome. Megan's husband John Massey, also a NHRI alum, was a member of Teenage Project. Megan and her family reside in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. 

Sarah Teten Kanter is on a mission to help people embrace the gift of growing older. She is founder and CEO of Positive Caregiving and author of Positive Caregiving: Caring for Older Loved Ones Using the Power of Positive Emotions. She holds a doctorate and master's degree in gerontology from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Prior to pursuing her passion in gerontology, she was chief marketing officer and chief customer officer at Kenexa, now an IBM company.