Born in Rochester New York, Barbara Hodder is the eldest of three children, while her parents, siblings, and extended family still resides in parts of the United States. Hodder immigrated to Canada as an American citizen in 2003 and officially became a Canadian citizen in 2014. With becoming a new Canadian citizen, Barbara felt like she needed to go back to her new home by joining the Royal Canadian Navy in 2016 while also receiving her commission in 2017.
Some of the areas of specialty for Barbara Hodder is that she is promoting organizational change, human resources, diversity leadership, and event planning. Hodder is now working in finance as a senior manager at BMO Financial Group in Canada. Working in financing is something that Barbara Hodder thought was a field that she wouldn’t be working in but she currently is. Starting in the military at thirty-five was something that Hodder took pride in despite knowing that the military was very large and intimidating at times.
Just being able to wear her uniform in the military is something that Barbara Hodder takes a lot of pride in. She is extremely blessed and thankful for being able to impact the lives of others in small and larger portions. Being on time in the military was one crucial takeaway for Hodder when in the military because it has impacted her personal and professional life. People who serve in the military are expected to have professionalism and to do what is needed has given Hodder the confidence that has a major impact on her civilian career.
The day that Barbara Hodder became a Canadian citizen was when her citizenship judge challenged her to do something with her Canadian citizenship and the citizenship Judge wanted Hodder to use it as a tool for good. Hodder wanted to do more with her citizenship than just vote and participate in society, but rather to help people in need. Being able to choose who to look up to in the military for Barbara Hodder was between good and bad bosses. Hodder would often want to follow what the good bosses were saying and doing in the military because they were the most beneficial authority figures for her.
For Barbara Hodder, joining the military came with a lot of different things to learn, while the military would assume that when you come to them you essentially know nothing. The military are the ones that have to teach you how to fold your laundry, make your bed, and eat which are simple life lessons learned before military training. Relying on others and asking for help when needed was a turning point for Hodder in her military career. When being in the military you always have to be ready if something were to happen right in front of you. If the situation isn’t acted upon, military workers could lose their jobs if they do not help the person in need. There is often a misinterpretation of people in the military simply being rude and not wanting to talk to people, but people serving in the military are just regular people and are people who are trying to protect Canadians as well as make the world a better place. Making a difference in the lives of others is what Barbara Hodder strived for when serving in the military.
Barbara Hodder singing the Canadian National Anthem.
Be the first to comment