I thought I would start a weekly post on public figures I admire.  I’m a true believer that our identities are continually shaped by those around us and there are an endless number of peers and loved ones I draw inspiration from.  That’s probably one of the most exciting things about being here–that our characters are very relational and fluid.

I also want to call this weekly post “Gumption” because it refers to courage, resourcefulness and spunk.  In my opinion it’s one of the most important traits to continually develop in ourselves because the most important thing we can do is put ourselves out there.

So, the first person I admire is Dame Judi Dench.  Not only is she a talented actress in both dramatic and comedic roles, but she brings a strength to all of her performances that is so inspiring.