Letters, Lessons & the People Who Shaped Me

A Life Told Through the Letters of Others

Dear Everyone Who Helped Me Along the Way,

Today is Girl Scout Leader’s Day—a tribute to the adults who volunteer their time to help young girls build confidence, leadership, and character.

I was never a Girl Scout.

But I was a Bluebird (i.e. Girl Scout-in-training). Instead of Thin Mints, we sold peanut brittle that could crack a tooth—and did. (Sorry, Uncle Ralph!) I may not have earned badges for knot-tying or wilderness survival but I earned something better: the reliable guidance of patient adults who helped me grow into someone brave enough to write books, speak on stages, and confidently live in 90 square feet of New York City real estate.

One in particular was my high school dean, Roland Hicks. We became close since I was Vice President of my high school class for three years. After college, Dean Hicks had the chance to go pro in baseball—but he decided to become a teacher. That said everything about who he was. Here’s a letter he wrote to me when I was just about to turn 16.

June 14, 1986

Dear Felice,

Congratulations on your confirmation and reaching another plateau in your overall growth toward adulthood. It's always easy to pick out the young people whose values are influenced by strong religious and family support. Your personal achievements as a student leader and athlete are a prime example of those values and your hard work. It's been a pleasure to have worked with you on your fielding and hitting as well as class activities and I look forward to more of the same in the next two years. Remember, transfer your weight from your back foot to your front foot, get your hips open and whammo! Again, congratulations.

Shalom, Mr. Hicks

Character is built in the moments someone believes in you before you believe in yourself. Dean Hicks believed in me.

Today, I tip my pen to every grown-up who helped me become… well, me. You may not have realized it at the time, but you were planting seeds—of confidence, courage, and compassion. And yes, they took root. Thank you for handing me responsibility even before I felt ready. You turned mistakes into lessons.

If you had someone like that in your life—a teacher, coach, counselor, or just a grown-up who made you feel seen—write them a note. Or better yet, a letter. (You knew that was coming.)

To anyone reading this who volunteers, teaches, listens, leads, or simply shows up for a kid: what you’re doing matters. Deeply. The letters we write into the lives of others—spoken or unspoken—last a long, long time.

With gratitude (and a lingering sugar rush from 1970’s peanut brittle),

Felice

P.S. Did you know the Girl Scouts offer a badge for writing letters to seniors and caretakers? (Honestly, I might join just to earn that badge.)

P.P.S. Happy Earth Day!

SONG OF THE WEEK
US Mail by Kevin Morby

Felice Cohen is an award-winning author, known nationally and internationally for living in one of the world’s smallest apartments. She wrote Half In: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Forbidden Love (endorsed by Rita Mae Brown), 90 Lessons for Living Large in 90 Square Feet (...and More) (inspired by her viral YouTube video with 25M+ views), and What Papa Told Me (endorsed by Elie Wiesel). Felice is a sought-after speaker, inspiring others through her books and talks. Find her at felicecohen.com.