20 Questions with NLOWE’S Jennifer Bessell

1. What is your full name? Jennifer Bessell.

2. Where and when were you born?

St. John’s. Would rather not say when.

3. Where do you live today?

Mount Pearl.

4. What’s your favourite place in the world?

Paris. I love the food, the wine, the culture, the romance, the fashion and the lifestyle. Life feels joyful there. Even the small things are celebrations.

5. Who do you follow on social media?

Brene Brown, Ambar Mac, Simon Sinek and Arlene Dickenson.

6. What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a bit of a geek and know a lot more about Marvel superheroes than you would expect.

7. What’s been your favourite year and why?

2012 – the year I got married.

8. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

When I finished at MUN, I took a position in Vancouver at the People’s Law School, a public legal education association as a program director. I was lucky to have my first real taste of professional independence as I was tasked with designing and implementing a provincial program from scratch. Leaving home, not knowing anyone and facing this new adventure alone was hard and exciting all at the same time.

9. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?

Losing my dad to cancer as a teenager made me even more appreciative of my mom and the other strong women in my life.

10. What’s your greatest indulgence

Good wine (mostly from France).

11. What is your favourite movie or book?

“The Blind Side.” It has the added bonus of torturing my husband.

12. How do you like to relax?

A bubble bath and a glass of wine.

13. What are you reading or watching right now?

“Radical Candor” by Kim Scott.

14. What is your greatest fear?

Snakes.

15. If you were singing karaoke, what would be your song?

“Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (by Pat Benatar). I just love the you-can’t-defeat-me vibe of the song.

16. What is your most treasured possession?

A dress military sword my dad gifted me.

17. What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?

A sense of humour.

18. What’s your biggest regret?

Not making time to visit Greece when I was travelling in Europe during university.

19. What is your best quality, and what is your worst quality?

The best would be my ability to make people laugh and put them at ease. My worst — while it takes a lot to get there, I possess a wee bit of a temper.

20. What three people would join you for a dream dinner party?

Michelle Obama, Brene Brown and Scarlett Johansson.