Guest essay: A mother’s journey
By Quinlan Riser
In 2004, my family moved to Colorado Springs, Colo. My mother, Tina, had been commuting 3 hours a day through Seattle traffic to reach her banking job in the city center. She would usually make it home around 7:30 p.m., just in time to prepare dinner and help my twin brother, Quentin, and me with our homework before getting us off to bed. As a single mother raising two boys in a large city, she had limited options. The job she held to support us didn’t offer flexibility to attend all of our extracurricular activities and events. The tradeoff for providing for our family was missing some moments in our academic and athletic endeavors that she would have preferred not to.
After 10 years in Seattle, my mother decided to sacrifice her career and comforts for the chance to share more moments with us. She made the bold decision to move to Colorado Springs, where my uncle was stationed at Fort Carson Army Base. He frequently shared stories about the strong school system and encouraged her to seek employment in the district. This move promised her proximity and flexibility to attend our events and support our academic pursuits, so she took the leap.
My mother began working as a librarian at Fountain Middle School, where we enrolled in sixth grade. From sixth to eighth grade, we saw our mother at school every day, and our teachers knew that Ms. Johnson was just down the hall if we needed anything. Her unwavering support helped us excel in every activity we pursued during our middle school years.
However, it was in ninth grade that we began to fully understand the financial sacrifices my mom made to be present in our lives. Despite being awarded Employee of the Year at Fountain Middle School for the 2006-2007 school year, her pay did not reflect her hard work. At that point, she sat down with Quentin and me and explained that she needed to take on a second job to continue paying for our club sports, outings with friends and other expenses.
My science teacher, Mrs. White, one of my all-time favorites, knew about my mother’s situation. Her husband was the manager at the local retail store, and she recommended my mother for a part-time position there. My mom was hired, and she started working.
During this time, a typical day for her was filled to the brim: She would work at the school from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then head to her second job from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. She ensured she had time off on days we had games or events so she could support us. In between jobs, she prepared dinner for us so we wouldn’t have to worry about meals after practice. This routine continued throughout our high school years, leading to my brother being named valedictorian while I finished with a strong 3.9 GPA. Both of us received football scholarships to William Jewell College.
I share this story not only to highlight my mother’s strength and resilience but also to emphasize that her experience is not unique. Many women in Des Moines, across the country and throughout the world wake up each day to conquer unimaginable challenges. Whether in business, academia, education, philanthropy or uplifting future generations, their strength is palpable.
In 2023, when the executive director of the Beacon shared with me the organization’s mission of helping women recover from trauma, substance use and mental illness, I was eager to get involved. As I joined the board and began to interact with the women we support, I recognized that same strength in them that I saw in my mother and in the countless women who have served as mentors and advocates in my life. No matter what obstacles they face or how stacked the odds may seem, these women possess the ability to envision a brighter future and tackle each challenge with courage, confidence and an unyielding determination that tells the world they won’t be stopped. That is why I advocate. Just as we admire dynasties in sports, titans in business and innovators of all kinds, I advocate for women because the remarkable women I have met defy the odds.
As men in today’s society, we must acknowledge the efforts and contributions of the women we encounter every day. Recognition goes beyond simply letting an individual know you see their potential; it involves sharing with others the impact you observe that individual having. When this message is communicated, it highlights the best and brightest in our community. It opens doors to greater opportunities for impact and ultimately improves outcomes for our society as a whole. Failing to advocate constrains not only that individual’s potential but also the potential of our society at large. One of my favorite quotes is by Michelle Obama, which I find particularly relevant in the context of advocacy:
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s the power of using your voice.”
To advocate is to recognize the strength of women in our lives and their remarkable ability to overcome challenges and achieve greatness, regardless of the circumstances, and tell others about it.
Quinlan Riser is the vice president of insurance and a wealth adviser at First Community Trust, N.A. He also owns Riser Property Management Group, LLC. Quinlan holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and economics from William Jewell College. Riser was named a Business Record Forty Under 40 earlier this year. He resides in Des Moines with his dog, Ace.
