03/27/2026
I don’t say it enough, but I truly love what I do. While my role as Administrative Director doesn’t place me directly in the clinical space, and I may not always see the full scope of impact happening there, I care deeply about every single person who walks through our doors. As a small facility, I get to experience firsthand how even the smallest interactions, conversations, check-ins, and shared moments can mean something real. I carry that with me every day, and I believe those connections still matter.
For the last year or so, I’ve been making these little hedgehogs, and lately, to my surprise (and gratitude), our clients have really taken to them. So I decided to start making them for graduations as a small, tangible way to celebrate a big, meaningful milestone.
*Presenting the Courage Center Graduation Hedgehog.*
When my middle child asked why I’d choose a hedgehog instead of a lion, especially since our logo is a lion and lions represent strength and courage, it gave me pause. And it led me to this:
A Lion is all roar, mane, and main-character energy—kicking down doors like it owns the savanna.
A hedgehog, meanwhile, is basically a tiny, spiky introvert with a solid “do not disturb” setting.
The lion says, “Face everything head-on!” while the hedgehog says, “Or…hear me out…roll into a ball and regroup.”
Turns out, both strategies work—depending on the day and your energy level. So go be bold like lions, but keep this hedgehog in your pocket for when life calls for snacks, boundaries, and a well-timed curl-up.
Taking 45 minutes to create something small and personal for each graduate is my way of giving a little piece of myself to them. It’s a reminder that even from the administrative side, I’m rooting for every single one of you. We’re all fighting our own battles—some of us charge forward like lions, and some of us rely on a tough exterior to protect what’s underneath. Either way, we’re in this together—and sometimes the smallest, softest things can carry the biggest meaning.
