5. Jennifer Caitlyn Gower:

The most gifted, natural-born teacher I know, in and out of the classroom. Caitlyn just began teaching this year with Teach for America, but as a former RA in college, she's taught more life lessons than almost anyone I can think of.

Everyone who knows Caitlyn has knows that passion emanates from her in such an inspiring and contagious way that no one escapes unmoved. Her desire to help young girls realize their true beauty and her heart for victimized children has led her to pursue a life in line with her ethical convictions: teaching high school English in the inner city of Las Vegas, arguably the most decadent destination in the U.S.

She has moved me to tears in a matter of minutes as she regales to me her love for these children who come in with cigarette burns on their backs and sneers slapped on their faces by too many sleepless nights of babysitting their siblings while their moms work two night shifts. But Caitlyn will not tolerate the way society marginalizes and martyrs those who are vulnerable. She never backed down in college when her residents needed her, and she's not about to start now. For her strength in the face of hardship, her sensitivity in the face of a calloused world, and her joy in the face of a Herculean task, I admire her more than she knows.

Life Principles:

1. Living in guilt is just as detrimental to your testimony as living in sin is. Reliving your past mistakes doesn't help you, or anyone else for that matter.

2. Learn to say you're sorry, even if you feel like you didn't do anything wrong. When someone else feels hurt, it ceases to be about what you did or did not do. Accidentally killing someone would still result in their death-- it doesn't matter if you did or didn't mean for it to be that way. Life is too short to value your pride over caring for another person's heart.

3. Laugh at yourself. There's such joy in being able to realize you're not perfect, and such freedom in not caring about it. It numbs the sickened feeling of embarrassment in your stomach, and you get to enjoy the humor with other people.

4. Be careful who you love...but when you decide to love someone, love the way you want to be loved: without limits and with constant affirmation. This is true for any relationship, not just romantic ones. Give yourself over to expressing yourself exuberantly as you attempt to communicate your love for those who are special to you.

5. Dance and sing all the time, even if you don't feel like you're good at it. Who cares if people laugh at you for being happy? Plus, these two things will definitely be in heaven, so we might as well practice now.

6. Listen to kids. Sometimes it is completely uninteresting, but if you never listen, you'll miss the times when it is beautiful, earth-shattering, and wise. You'll miss the moments when God is trying to get through to you.

4. Cyndi Darnell:

Elementary school librarian, nurturing spirit, and a crucial family stone as mother, daughter, wife, sister, and in-law in one of the healthiest families I have ever known.

There are two kinds of librarians I have observed. First, there are the mean-as-fire-ants noise hawks who give you a spit bath with their shushing every time you enter the presence of a book. These, of course, have their merits when you want to hunker down to study and need someone to lay down the law, but they certainly tip Machiavelli's scale towards fear rather than love.

Every once in a while, though, you find the other kind of librarian: a gem like Cyndi Darnell who inspires (even in children) the same silence by instilling love and respect for the books and reverence for knowledge.

In addition to being a world-renowned children's librarian, Mrs. Darnell (in partnership with her husband) has successfully raised four well-rounded children who love each other, seek things that are truly important in life, and contribute beautifully to society in their respective fields of interest. To me, in this day and age, that in itself is a miracle worthy of admiration.

Life Principles:

1. Remember that to whom much has been given, much is required and expected. As someone who has been given much, God expects more out of us than what we naturally would do (e.g. relax in a recliner and fall asleep reading a book). God blesses us to bless others, not because it's all about us.

2. Be content in all things- will your circumstances make you bitter or better? We have been given a choice of whether our experiences will make us more of a person or less of one. We should always seek to be patient, and to be content as we wait for the plan of our lives to unfold.

3. Use your time and resources to make a lasting difference. Most people do not have spare time in abundance, so make it count for something beyond yourself and the immediate future, and choose your causes wisely.

4. Hold out for the best. Many good things come in and out of your life for a season, but good things are just good things. Seek out what is truly the best.

5. Keep an "all for one and one for all" mentality with your family. Any time someone has an event, everyone goes and supports. Any vacation, any time you're eating out- stick together. No one gets left behind and no one gets to choose to stay behind, either.

6. To relate to children, seek them out and show them they can trust you. Smile, bend to eye level, play games to eliminate shyness, use their name, etc.

7. Have a "let me make your day" attitude in all you do. Every person, young or old, works hard to get noticed in some way or another because they crave attention and validation. Make people feel special by being an encouragement and complimenting them. Show them you think they are important and you care about their lives by asking questions and following up with more questions about their answers.