Ten years ago, Jessica Kollman nearly lost her life. She was driving home from the gym and was hit head on by a drunk driver. The accident crushed both her feet and left her unable to walk for several months. "I spent a lot of time reflecting on how lucky I was to be alive," says Jessica, a culture engagement specialist at
CompHealth locum tenens. "I knew that I had lived through the accident for a reason and committed my life to making a difference."
Driving change
After the accident, Jessica had "Be the Change" tattooed on her wrist and lives by those three little words. She spends most of her time and resources volunteering with the United Way and serving on its committees and women's leadership council. She is also a Young Leader, as well as a mentor to a little girl.
She's coordinated volunteer opportunities with the Utah Food Bank and dinners at the Road Home. She's also volunteered with the Cancer Wellness House, the Festival of Trees and Equality Utah, as well as held bake sales to help people experiencing difficult times.
Rippling effects of kindness
Last year, Jessica led a team-building activity during CompHealth's leadership summit. "I presented on kindness and compassion and how it can have an exponential ripple effect," she says. Each table was given $160 to go out in to the community and spread some love. The next morning, they shared their acts of kindness.
The positive experience had a lasting impact on the leaders. They used some of the money dedicated to their division's holiday party for a team-wide acts-of-kindness activity. "To see the entire division come together to make an impact in our community still overwhelms me today," Jessica shares.
Finding Zen and forgiveness
"Thanks to the free classes offered at CHG, I was introduced to yoga," Jessica shares. "Not only did yoga help me physically heal from the accident, it also helped me forgive the drunk driver who almost killed me."
Jessica saw an opportunity to bring the healing power of yoga to others in need. She partnered with a United Way Community School to teach yoga and meditations that focus on love and kindness in an after-school program.
"I could have let my car accident define me," Jessica shares. "But instead, I used a bad experience to help change the world."
Jessica is one of our 13 Difference Maker finalists. CHG's Difference Maker program celebrates our people who are committed to changing the world by making a positive social impact on others and in their communities.
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