Theresa Veitch

Throughout my life, I cared deeply about how others perceived me and tried to conform to society’s traditional expectations of a woman. As I got older, I discovered I truly loved the unique, opinionated, and smart woman I was. Instead of hiding, I started embracing my fabulous self. Growing older has given me the confidence to be unapologetically myself and live life on my own terms, free from others’ opinions, and to love myself for who I am.

I’m constantly working on staying fabulous, and there’s no simple answer for this journey. I’m a work in progress, learning daily. Some days, I may feel sad, sick, or tired, but I remind myself these feelings are temporary. Without the downtimes, I wouldn’t appreciate the good times. In a nutshell, I stay fabulous by striving to feel good and embracing the journey. And let’s be honest—a little Botox, filler, and great nails won’t hurt either!

I returned to school later in life, after my children had grown, to finish a diploma in reclamation/remediation and work on my applied degree. This journey was incredible but financially challenging. I worked an evening job while studying and relied on student loans to get by. If I won the prize money, I would use it to pay off the student loans that have been weighing on me for years. This would provide me relief to focus on my career and future without the burden of debt.