Oral History Program Andrea Tesch Interviewed by Colleen Henstra 1 April 2017 Oral History Program Weber State University Stewart Library Ogden, Utah Andrea Tesch Interviewed by Colleen Henstra 1 April 2017 Copyright © 2023 by Weber State University, Stewart Library Mission Statement The Oral History Program of the Stewart Library was created to preserve the institutional history of Weber State University and the Davis, Ogden and Weber County communities. By conducting carefully researched, recorded, and transcribed interviews, the Oral History Program creates archival oral histories intended for the widest possible use. Interviews are conducted with the goal of eliciting from each participant a full and accurate account of events. The interviews are transcribed, edited for accuracy and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewees (as available), who are encouraged to augment or correct their spoken words. The reviewed and corrected transcripts are indexed, printed, and bound with photographs and illustrative materials as available. The working files, original recording, and archival copies are housed in the University Archives. Project Description The Weber State College/University Student Projects have been created by students working with several different professors on the Weber State campus. The topics are varied and based on the student's interest or task for a specific assignment. These oral history assignments were created to help Weber State students learn the value and importance of recording public history and to benefit the expansion of the Weber State oral history collections. ____________________________________ Oral history is a method of collecting historical information through recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account. It reflects personal opinion offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ____________________________________ Rights Management This work is the property of the Weber State University, Stewart Library Oral History Program. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Tesch, Andrea, an oral history by Colleen Henstra, 1 April 2017, WSU Stewart Library Oral History Program, Special Collections and University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, UT. iii Andrea Tesch April 2017 Abstract: This is an oral history interview with Andrea Tesch. It was conducted on April 1, 2017 at 610 W. 3550 S. Riverdale, Utah and concerns her thoughts and impressions of being a woman leader in the Northern Utah area. The interviewer is Colleen Henstra. CH: Please start by telling us about your background, so childhood, teenage years, where you grew, hobbies, family values, education, anything like that that you would like to share. AT: I grew up with a family of seven kids. I was third to the youngest. It was in South Ogden, Utah, where I grew up, so right by Weber State, which is an awesome place. I really had a great childhood growing up; with having seven kids, sometimes it's hard for people to really find where they fit in the mix and I felt like, just right from the beginning, I really felt like I fit in and I knew who I was. And I think a lot of it was instilled by my parents and then also by my brothers and sisters -- we all got along pretty well. My mom actually was very sick growing up. She had a mental illness. She was diagnosed with bipolar and depression and so growing up not having my mom there for a good amount of time -- she actually got to the point where she stopped taking care of herself. She just gave, gave to all of us and just really got really sick. And through that time period, with my mom not being there, I had to rely on my brothers and sisters and really step into being the helper around the house and ‘the mom,’ you could say and help my mom get better. It was hard seeing her; she had to go to a psych ward for several months, and my dad was working full time and going to school. So there was a lot of time where we were kind of figuring it out on our own. But 1 the values that they had instilled in us as young children – I knew that we were being watched out for. And so even though she wasn’t around, it was okay. We got through it. Since then, she’s turned into a really amazing woman as well and has been able to get the help that she needs. So, those are the things, when I think about my childhood – I don’t have any bad feelings toward my childhood. I feel like I had a great childhood, and a lot of those experiences that I had molded me into who I am now. CH: What about education? AT: So, my education: I went to Weber State. I actually was in leadership positions all growing up, through junior high and high school. I actually got a four-year, full-ride scholarship at Weber State, and I was an ambassador, so I recruited for Weber State. I definitely believe in education. I went to school and I was originally going to go into public speaking, but then I kind of changed things around and went into nutrition and fitness. I had a really great experience at Weber State. I didn’t graduate all the way, yet. Even though I had the four-year scholarship I actually ended up starting a family and had kids, so I took a little break. But there’s always different ways that you can continue your education, and since then I’ve been mentored and coached by many different people. That’s really helped me as well. CH: Awesome, thank you. What experiences did you have in childhood or adult years that led you to believe that you could be a leader? AT: I think, kind of going back to the beginning, where my mom was sick and I just really had to take over that role right from the beginning of leadership, I 2 always remember having in my heart, just caring about people. Even when I was in elementary school, I always remember my parents dropping me off to school and saying “Make a new friend today! Be nice to others!” And then when I got home from school, "Who did you meet today? Who were you able to help?" My dad was the biggest example of service and charity, and so I really learned a lot from him. Growing up, I just remember really wanting to reach out and make a difference in people's lives. I can remember writing a paper when I was in second grade that I still have about being nice and giving, changing the world. So that was just instilled in me right from the beginning from those experiences [and] examples around me. The people around me really helped instill those leadership qualities that I feel like I evolved all throughout my childhood and led into being an adult as well. CH: What was it like being an ambassador for Weber State? AT: It was awesome. It was really fun. Lots of great people. It was a leadership scholarship, so I got to meet -- I got to go to the high schools and talk to the kids about education and what they were going to pursue, their goals, their dreams, and how Weber State could help them in that. I also got to do all the tours at orientation, so if you've ever been to orientation and been given a tour of the school, that’s actually what I did as an ambassador for Weber State. I loved the culture of Weber State. I love the atmosphere, and really what it instilled. And as a person going into college, it was just a really great place to go. I loved representing Weber State that way. CH: What are your core values? 3 AT: I would say my core values for sure are God. I definitely believe that if you read, and read about people that have a lot of success, a lot of them have a belief in a higher power. Whether you believe in God or something else that's larger than you, that for sure has been the number one thing for me that's helped me, is just having faith in something bigger, faith that there's something out there that can help you achieve your goals and dreams. So that would definitely be a core value of mine. My religion; being involved in my kids; my family, and being there for them. Time; spending time with them, quality time -- we all get busy in life, and I think it's really easy to get wrapped up in either motherhood or your jobs or career or education to where it can consume you. I think it's really important to have balance in everything so you don't get lost within motherhood or you don't get lost within your career. There [are] other things that we have as individuals that we were born with and core values and talents and those things -- it's important for those things to come out as we go throughout our lives. So I would say for sure, that a core value for me is many things, but God being number one for me. CH: How have your core values influenced your leadership experiences? AT: They have for sure they've given me tons of ideas. I had an idea a couple of years ago -- I had three kids under four and I was in a really hard place in my life. I ran my own business for about four or five years, it was really successful, six-figure business. I worked with thousands of women during that time and the business took over my life and I didn't know how to manage all of it. I got to the point where I kind of took a break, walked away and kind of 4 grounded myself during that time. And I really looked back at my core values at that time and I thought, "What can I do to really help?” I had found the help for myself that I needed and so with all the things I learned, I really wanted to help other women. So I was inspired and came up with an idea to do something called the Worth of One, which was a retreat that I founded for women. It was just a safe place for women to come and be uplifted and inspired. And the first year I did it, we had about 250 women come and then the second year we had over 700 women. And after that event, my whole goal was to help women see their worth in themselves, and that whole idea came from my core values and really praying and really thinking about what I could do as a woman to help other women. And the letters and the things that happened from that retreat helped me realize that there really is a need for that type of thing, for women to be empowered and to, you know, hold onto each other and lean onto each other for help. Because life gets hard sometimes and we all need each other's help. So that was something that without my core values, I would have never put on something like that. I was really afraid, but I turned with faith, and to God to help me put that on. One of the main speakers that we had was Elizabeth Smart. Her story is incredible, and I know that her core value is faith in God as well, and many other things. It was a very inspiring retreat that we were able to have here in Ogden, Utah with many other leaders here around the area. CH: Name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader. AT: I would say, I really honestly can't think of just one person. I feel like there are 5 so many people in my life: church leaders, my parents, there are many leaders in my religion that have helped me. There [are] experiences that I had in college, professors that were great and then also ones that weren't so great that also instilled, I would say doubt in me. So I would say for sure throughout my life there's been people that have definitely helped me shine in helping me become a better leader. My student government advisors, even my friends, the people I surround myself with [have helped me]. I always read a lot of really inspiring motivational books growing up. So many people in my life have been a huge influence. I can't really think of one person, just because I feel like everybody's had some sort of role in helping me develop who I am today. And that's one thing I've learned is that you can learn from everybody around you. There [are] always positive things and there's always negative things from both sides and I think it's important to just look at the positive things in people and take those qualities and surround yourself with people that are going to uplift you and inspire you and bring you up to be a better person. CH: What do you see as the biggest challenges of being a woman leader in Northern Utah? AT: As a woman leader, I would say self-confidence, just because I’ve worked with so many women and I've talked to so many moms. Self-confidence, and then I think especially with the culture here, it's easy to lose yourself just within what you're doing. I mean, I'm a mom, and being a mom has been the greatest thing in my whole life. I wouldn't change it, I don't regret it. It's also the hardest thing I've ever done, too. And I think it's easy to feel like you're 6 alone in that role, being a mom or a single mom. Or even if you're a single woman that's just working or going to school, I just feel like it's easy to feel alone and I think that's what -- when you feel alone oftentimes your confidence isn't there either. So, I think the core thing is having selfconfidence and believing that you are of worth, that you matter, that you can make a difference, that your actions can help other people. And when you have that self-confidence and self-worth, automatically you’re going to be a better person all around: you’re going to be a better mom, you’re going to be a better wife, you’re going to be a better employee because you feel like you can do it. You’ll feel like you have that self-empowerment to do great things. So, I would say, the biggest thing that people struggle with here in the Northern Utah area, would be finding that self-confidence and finding themselves, and not having their past define who they are. We all have things that we have gone through or things that we’ve done that we regret, [but] that doesn’t define who we are. You have the power to change. You have the power to change your mind and to use those things not to define you, but to refine you. And you can use those things, those experiences, to help others around you. But that’s for sure what I would say I’ve seen the most of. And the only way you find self-confidence and self-worth is by taking time for yourself. If you can take time for yourself to really figure out in your day – you know, for me, every morning, I wake up and I think, “Okay. What do I need to do for me today? What do I need to do for Jackson?” – he’s my oldest son – “What do I need to do for Ashley? What do I need to do for Anika? What do I need to do 7 for my husband?” And I make sure that I put my name on the first of my list, and I get that one thing, [even] if it’s just taking a bath or reading a book or whatever it is, and make sure that I do it for myself. Because, like I said, when I was younger, my mom didn’t take time for herself. And eventually she almost died from it; she was just giving, giving, giving all the time. And I think there’s a lot of great people here in Northern Utah – tons! Everybody’s so [focused] on lots of giving and charity, and it’s good to give. But not to the point where you're depleting your own self and running out of gas. I always say "Everybody has errands to run in the day. If you don't fill your car up with gas, you're not going to be able to get to any of your destinations.” So that's why it's important: fill up your tank, fill up yourself. Fill up yourself first so that you have the energy to give to your kids, to your husband, to your family, to your job. So that's what I would say is the biggest thing. I've had to learn [it] too over time with running my own business and being a mom. That was a hard time and I didn't know how to manage it all. Eventually I actually almost died as well because my health had just gone -- I mean, I was in the hospital and had to have 24-7 help because I got to the point where I didn't take care of myself. And so that would be it for sure that I would say is the biggest thing. CH: What advice would you give emerging young women in order to be successful? AT: Believe in yourself. When you have an idea and when you have something come to your mind, I always say you've got about five seconds to act on that idea. That women's retreat that I was talking about called The Worth of One, 8 that was an idea that came to me. I had you know three kids under four, I had left my business, I was just really having a hard time being home all day with the kids, crying sometimes because it was hard, it was really hard. And I had this idea: there's got to be other women out there that feel like this. I should put on this women's retreat called The Worth of One! And I put that idea off and off and off and so for probably eight months, and it just kept coming to me and coming to me. And I knew I was supposed to do this women's retreat. So finally, I had the faith and I just knew I was supposed to do it, even though I knew it would be hard and I had no idea what I was doing. And I did it! Just because I believed in myself, I believed I could do it, and I had the confidence in myself to put it on. In my lifetime, just with everything I’ve done, having that belief and the knowledge that you are worth it and that you matter, and that you can do great things: that would be the number one thing. Because if you don’t believe in yourself, you’re not ever going to act on those impressions that you have or those ideas that you have. And those impressions and ideas that come to your mind: they’re important. Sometimes we have this fear that we just want to stay in our comfort zone because that’s where it’s comfortable. So any time we do something new, our brain is automatically like, “What? What are you doing? Why are you doing this? This is not right.” But having those challenges only make us stronger. They only bring us up. And you’re going to learn from them whether they work out or not how you feel like they should have or could have. You’re going to learn a lot from it. And it’s always better – you know, I say, Think of the worst-case scenario. Like for me, “If I go and do this 9 women’s retreat, what’s the worst-case scenario? Okay, people don’t show up, or there’s only ten people in the room. You know what? That’s okay. Those are ten people I influenced, or ten people I that I made a difference to.” So, when you have the impression to do something, to talk to somebody, you see somebody in a room, you listen to a presentation, you are in a classroom with a professor and you have an idea, write it down and act on it, that day if you can. Make up a blueprint, a plan, of how you’re going to achieve that, because if you don't, it will just leave your mind. You know, I always say, “God will give that duty to somebody else if you aren't going to do it,” or the higher power or whatever you believe in. They'll give -- the impression will go to somebody else if you don't act on it. And there's a reason why you're getting the impression. There's a reason why you're the one that it's come to your mind, so act on it and believe that you can do it. CH: What other insights can you share about being a woman in Northern Utah? AT: Just be a helping hand to those women around you. If you're at the park, or you see women in need or distress, there's so many things around here that you can do to serve others. A part of the women's retreat that I did, Weber Human Services was a huge sponsor in that. They're an incredible company-or organization, they aren't a company. They're a foundation. There's something called the Tranquility Home and what I actually did was -- the Tranquility Home is a place for women who have addictions, mostly drug addictions. They go there, and most of them have kids. And their kids have been separated from their mom because of their addiction, and the Tranquility Home is a place where [these moms] go to get help to work 10 through all that to get rid of the addiction and reunite with their kids. And it's actually one of the only centers where you can have your kids there. So, with that organization, that foundation, we got together and they were sponsors in the women's retreat. And we got to choose four women from the Tranquility Home. We took them out and we took them to a spa. They had a whole transformation -- we called it Transformation Day. At the beginning of that day, I got to record them on video, just like you’re watching me, and talk to them and ask them how they thought about themselves. These women, some of them had been in prison; one of them, her whole house had been burned down and she lost her husband in the fire. Like, crazy incredible stories, and you’re sitting there thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe I even complained about my tiny little trials.” Anyways, as I was interviewing them, I asked them about their selfconfidence and what they thought about themselves. And one of them said, “I hate looking in the mirror. I feel ugly.” So, during that whole Transformation Day – we got it on camera – we got them at the spa, we got their hair done, makeup. We got to take them to a fashion store; they got a whole new outfit and we had a fashion lady come to help design their outfits. We got to take them to lunch and really gave them some tools that they could use for confidence, to really build their self-esteem up. At the end of that day, we got on camera and we asked them, “How do you feel about yourself now?” And it was like total night and day. They were just like, “Wow, I feel so amazing.” Not that outward appearance is all that matters, but taking care of 11 yourself: if you’re taking care of yourself, you’re automatically going to feel better on the inside. And they were totally different from the start to the finish. Then, two weeks later at the retreat, we did a fashion runway show, and these women got to run down it. And all the women were cheering, and they got to watch the video. And it was actually one of the neatest experiences for me, out of the whole retreat. That was my highlight, being with these women. I’ve actually been in touch with those four women since then. It’s been seven months ago since I did that, and they're all out of the Tranquility Home. I just met up with a couple of them for lunch and they're totally different people. I can't even describe to you the transformation that that – I mean, it was the Tranquility Home as well, but a couple of them have said that that particular women's retreat that they did was just a life-changing event for them. So, I would say, if you're in this area, there are tons of opportunities to make a difference in other people's lives. I always thought, “I'm just little me! I'm like, five-foot-one. I can't really make that big of an impact.” And the one thing I can say is that you can make an impact and you matter, and you can make a difference in people's lives and that you're worth it. 12