RCC’s Phenomenal Women event recognizes Janice Weathers, Donna McDowell

RCC’s Phenomenal Women event recognized two women for their greatness on Monday – Sgt. Janice Weathers, the department adjutant/CEO for the Disabled American Veterans Department of North Carolina, and Donna McDowell, a family nurse practitioner. Both women received an award for their contributions to the community and were given an opportunity to share their life experiences with others.

Donna McDowell

“Keep going,” Donna McDowell said as she spoke at Robeson Community College’s Phenomenal Women’s Celebration in honor of Women’s History Month. “Don’t wait for a pat on the back, don’t wait for whatever it is you think you’re waiting for, don’t wait for it, just go forward.”

McDowell is a graduate of the Respiratory Therapy program at Robeson Community College, earning an associate degree in 2001. Today, she is a family nurse practitioner working in Rowland.

“It took me a long time to figure myself out,” McDowell said. “It took me a long time to get the courage to decide what I wanted to do.”

As she progressed through her career, she became a travel nurse and ended up working for a period of time in Las Vegas.

“I didn’t make any money because I spent it all shopping,” she recalled. “If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas, you know the shopping is phenomenal.”

Using a metaphorical example, McDowell told of how in Las Vegas, there were no lines drawn on the roadways, only lights, bright lights to guide you to your destination.

“So, when you’re driving at night, those things would light up, and I could see better than I could if I was driving on the road here at night,” McDowell said. “There were no lines, but I could still drive in my lane, and as the military tells us, stay in your lane.”

“So, to let you know, sometimes, it may look dark… but I promise you, the light is really there,” McDowell said. “Sometimes you just can’t see it, but when you cannot see it, you still go forward… don’t stay in the same place because you can’t see the light, just keep moving forward.”

McDowell shared how at times she felt like she was a failure, but she never stopped believing.

“I felt like I was a failure at points in my life, but when I felt like a failure, that’s when I learned the most,” she stated. “When you feel like you failed in your career, or you’re not going forward as fast as somebody else, don’t worry about it…. you’re going to learn something from that.”

Janice Weathers

“I’m a mover,” Janice Weathers stated as she greeted the audience. “I think my life’s travels and my life’s journey have prepared me to be the department adjutant for the DAV department of North Carolina.”

Weathers’ military career, and that of her husband, stems over two decades long, with her service continuing with disabled veterans.

“We have over 38,000 members strong, and we advocate,” Weathers said. “Just like the American Legion and the VFW, we fight for veterans’ rights… we go to different conventions and conferences and talk about the rights and the benefits of veterans.”

As part of her efforts to help veterans, Weathers has made it a part of her journey to reach out to those who have served, making phone calls, and visiting them to make a difference.

“I’m dedicated to what I do,” Weathers told. “I want to make sure that everybody that we can help, we help. I want to make sure that this person knows that there is help and I want to make sure that the next veteran or their spouse knows there are benefits that they can have that are there for them.”

Weathers touched on why it is so important to reach out and connect.

“The suicide rate for veterans is 22 people a day… Can you imagine? 22. In just three days, this whole section would be wiped out, so why can’t we reach out and call that veteran,” Weathers asked.

“Call that veteran,” she said. “Call that Veteran’s widow, check on their children, go by and say, I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

In doing so, Weathers says, “That one conversation that you have with that person could change their life.”

And as policies change and new laws are written, Weather says education is key for a Veteran’s survival.

“The rules are always changing, you can see for yourself in the news and we’re making sure we get the message out to people that we can help,” Weathers stated. “If somebody needs help with their light bill or if they are homeless, we have places for them to go… we can help them.”

“And you’re a veteran and you served for the United States, that’s our compassion,” Weathers added. “If you don’t take anything else from me today, call a veteran, check on the wife, check on the children, go to a veteran’s organization. We can always use a volunteer to help.”

As she ended her speech, Weathers thanked the audience and those who nominated her for the prestigious award.

“I would like to thank RCC for this phenomenal award,” she said. “Continue to look to God first, family second, and business third…If you do this, everything else is going to be alright.”