ABSTRACT
It should be no surprise that in many of the participants’ stories, significant others (family, friends, partners, or peers) were often mentioned. Human beings are inherently social, and we often handle stress and celebrate success by sharing experiences with others who care enough to listen. We also tend to evaluate ourselves by comparisons with others who are engaged in similar activities. The six women in this study were no exception: They talked to me about family and friends who were important to them. Although these people often had personal, family connections to the participants, they also played significant roles in the participants’ professional development.
