What’s your full name?

Jennifer Lyn Shields

Were you named after anyone?

My dad calls my mom “Lin”, that’s where my middle name comes from.

What’s your average day like?

When I’m in school: wake up after nursing my 2 year-old all night at about 7am. Stumble to the car at 7:20am with coffee in hand and take Isabella (eldest daughter) to Berean (High School) and Hope (daughter) to Contra Costa School of the Arts. Come back home and pick up Molly (daughter) to take her to school.

Pick up Starbucks for my mom. Come home and clean up the mess. Start making flash cards or studying for my classes while doing laundry and taking breaks to take care of my son. At about 1:30pm I start on my pick up rounds of all the kids while my son naps in the car. I head out to school around 4:30pm. Get home around 9:40pm. Climb into bed for a couple hours.

How far away do you live from where you were born?

10 minutes.

What do you consider to be your “home”?

Wherever my parents are. Concord, CA.

What’s your ideal way to spend the holidays?

Home with my kids.

What items do you always take with you when you leave the house?

Cell phone, wallet, flash cards.

When you look in the mirror, what do you notice first?

Any blemishes.

If you could change something about your appearance, what would it be?

I don’t like that my nose is crooked and has a little hump.

What do you first notice in strangers?

Smile. If they look kind or mean.

What do think people say about you?

That I have a lot of baby daddies and failed relationships.

What would you hope they would say?

That she is a strong survivor.

What is your proudest moment? Biggest victory?

Every science class I pass.

What is your biggest regret? Biggest failure?

Not going to college after high school.

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

Self-doubt or shame.

What makes life worth living?

My kids.

What is the one rule you try to live by? Do you feel successful at following it?

Be kind. Yes, absolutely. Unless you hurt one someone in my family…then all bets are off.