Meet BAHS Team Member Hannah Neely

This week, we sat down with BAHS Senior Placement Specialist Hannah Neely to discuss the joys of motherhood, how her background in education shaped her parenting philosophy, and why she believes in the power of presence, humility, and lifelong learning.

Hannah spent her formative years in the Pacific Northwest and then as a teenager traveled extensively for school and her father’s medical career. She started college at 16 and moved to a small tropical island between Japan and Australia and then studied in Germany.

After settling on the West Coast, she worked on her second degree in Education; her first degree is in Theology. A former Safety Analyst, she handled national cases of families and care providers.

Hannah spent a few years as a certified foster/adoptive mother with a private agency and considers this one of her top dreams that came to fruition–caring for children in vulnerable situations.

She enjoys being with her daughter Grace, hiking, and being in nature.

Sometimes it is like being in a lily pond and you are on a frond you won’t be on forever, opportunities and growth can happen, and you may hop onto another frond someday that you wouldn’t have been on if you weren’t in your current spot learning what you are–but be diligent with what you have now. Always remain hopeful.

What has been your favorite part of motherhood?

How the heart expands, and you become so aware of and accountable to this new life beyond just yourself. Also, when she was younger: folding her little clothes!

You studied teaching. How did that shape your approach to raising your daughter and making choices about her education?

Understanding that intrinsic learning is of utmost important. To have a love of learning can both be due to nature and nurture, and to nurture that as much possible with our own example, curiosity, and engagement with the world around us. From a young age I gave Grace books more than technology, although there can be a balance of everything and there is certainly great use for technology as well at times–don’t we all have fond memories of sweet cartoons we remember as children? I had her engage in the world around her in the sense of keeping her from smart phones and tablets in public though; to wander at the world, be curious and aware of others and nature. Being mindful of others beyond just her own peer group, minding her manners, and being okay with being “bored” and learning to find playful things to do or get into without relying upon technology for stimulation. Everything can become about learning through a neighborhood walk or volunteering to feed the homeless (something we did together for 7 years). Parental involvement is important, too–children see when we’re interested in what they are learning, or spearheading fun things ourselves to do with them on a subject, and they see from our example; it’s not just what we tell our children or what others model to them, as parents it is how we are living our lives as well that they are often primarily gleaning upon.

Your daughter was recently accepted into UCLA. Congratulations! Would you like to take a moment to share a little bit about your daughter? What qualities do you most admire in her?

Thank you! She will be studying Cognitive Science. Her perseverance, kindness, patience (even with me sometimes, we all have feet of clay), and her quietness that is often because she is thinking before speaking and trying to see things fairly about others.

Where did you grow up?

In the Pacific Northwest, north of Seattle, on a little farm with horses, chickens, turkeys, goats, cats, dogs, and some pigs (offsite). However, starting at 14 I began traveling around other parts of the world and the US.

What do you love about your job?

Positive and kind interactions with others, helping other find wonderful jobs where they can be an asset and help to a family or organization. Helping people find work is meaningful and assisting families, individuals, and home offices with their hiring needs is also a process I am grateful to be a part of.

Do you have any advice for women facing a great deal of stress in their professional or personal lives?

I think we all do at times and seeking out quiet and joy is important to me. I love to go on nature hikes or walks, listen to the birds and wind in the trees. I live in a beautiful area for this. Spiritual life is also important to me, how often we sharpen our minds and focus on physical health (while important) but to nurture the soul as well is important. I also enjoy having deep, good talks with my handful of close friends on a one-on-one basis. Slowing down and appreciating the daily things that make me feel warmth that I can sometimes take for granted–like waking up and having a good, strong coffee. Contentment in a world rushing to have us do and be more is also my antidote.

Do you have any advice for young women just starting out in their careers?

Humility is important while knowing your worth. We don’t have to all be number 1, or rather, to have people think we are. Be honest about your qualifications and don’t feel like you have to be–or present yourself to be–someone or something you’re not. Don’t talk poorly or down about yourself either because that’s not a good look and can be another side of the same coin of being too focused on self. Be an encourager to those around you while remaining genuine (people see through flattery). Working hard, being thankful for a job, understanding your value, and contributing. Sometimes it is like being in a lily pond and you are on a frond you won’t be on forever, opportunities and growth can happen, and you may hop onto another frond someday that you wouldn’t have been on if you weren’t in your current spot learning what you are–but be diligent with what you have now. Always remain hopeful.