Women Who Serve feature
Story by Leah Power • Photographed by Laura McBryde Gainey
Becky
TAYLOR
SITTING ACROSS FROM ME IN A QUAINT CORNER OF Lula ’ s Coffee Shop , Becky Taylor doesn ’ t match the typical stereotype of a U . S . Navy veteran . As the music plays overhead , I can ’ t help but take notice of her soft spoken nature , gentle smile , and effortless confidence . However , among those traits lies a past struggle that I never imaged a confident woman like Becky would deal with . Like so many young women , I struggle with finding my direction in life . We ’ re asked to make crucial decisions about our lives at a time when we ’ re still trying to figure out how to survive in the “ real ” world . Yet , as Becky and I sip our coffee and chat about life , she shares with me her own experience of unsureness finding direction and success . A now wife , mother of two boys , and successful pharmacist , Becky smiles as we dive head first into the story of the decision that would lead her to a life of purpose and joy .
Growing up in rural western Pennsylvania , Becky was surrounded by the different branches of the military from a young age . With great uncles in World War II , a father who served in the Marines during the Korean Conflict , and a brother currently enlisted in the Army , the idea of enlisting was something that was always in the back of her mind . When the time came to make a decision about her future , there wasn ’ t much that Becky was certain about . However , the confidence that I first noticed took a front as Becky recounted the two convictions that she held as her future loomed closer . “ I knew that I didn ’ t want to end up in the fading steel mills of Pennsylvania and I wanted to go to college ! For what , I still wasn ’ t sure .” As she began looking into the different options that were open to her , Becky took a page out of her family ’ s past . Shortly before turning 18 , she approached her parents , absolutely certain of one thing - the Navy , which would give her the ticket to college that she so desperately wanted and hopefully some direction about what career to pursue . As she shares this with me , I can ’ t help but imagine the nervousness that her parents must have felt having their baby girl ask to enlist in the military . “ It wasn ’ t as hard for my dad as my mom ,” Becky recalled , sipping on her decaf coffee . “ She was just nervous that I would use the military as a way to avoid school . That was a big deal for her since neither of my parents had gone to college .”
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104 JULY 2016 SHEMAGAZINE . COM