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Starshine Roshell *
Presentation to Santa Barbara Council for Self-Esteem - 01/19/07

	Photography by Mark McDonald of Perfect Image

The Introduction
By Bob Hodges

Our guest speaker today is Starshine Roshell. Unlike most of us who are named after mothers, fathers and grand parents, “Starshine” came from a more interesting source. She was named for a song in the 1960s musical "Hair," in which her father starred. She grew up in Los Angeles on the soap opera sets, in the recording studios and Sunset Strip nightclubs where her parents worked. She wrote for The Hollywood Reporter before joining the Santa Barbara News-Press in 1995 as a news reporter, theater and music critic and feature writer. Her popular weekly column, which is now syndicated in the Santa Barbara Independent and other newspapers, offers Starshine's fresh take on the cult of thong underwear, the appeal of geeks and everything in between. One of her recent ‘in between’ columns begs to be mentioned here today. The headline…. ‘Floss This’ and I quote, “I don’t floss. I just don’t. And I’m tired of apologizing for it.” If there are any hygienists in the audience, you might want to have a little chat with Starshine after the presentation. Starshine is a busy lady. She also writes for Santa Barbara Magazine, teaches journalism at Santa Barbara City College and is the mother of two. Starshine is here today to present her thoughts on self-esteem. In her own words: "Self-esteem is the almost stubborn certainty that you can do it. Even if you have no idea what 'it' is." Please, give a warm welcome to Starshine Roshell.

The following wrap-up is by Betty Hatch

The charming presentation began with a true story to illustrate her definition of self-esteem about an event in Starshine’s eight year old son’s (Stone) life that occurred when he was three years old.  His granddad drove up in front of their home on his chrome chopper and questioned Stone, who was astride his tiny tricycle, “You wanna race to the end of the block?" The child looked at him carefully and replied, “Yeah.”

 “You think you can beat me?” his grandfather asked, revving up his powerful motor.

	Starshine (Right) and Willa Young, the President of the Santa Barbara Council for Self-Esteem. Photography by Mark McDonald of Perfect Image

 “Yeah,”  he said seriously ... “What does beat mean?”

Thus she illustrated that Stone knew he could do it, even before he knew what ‘it’ was!

Though Starshine’s name is quite unusual and some people have laughed out loud when she has introduced herself, she likes the name, saying that it has made her stand out which, in turn, made her more accountable* for her actions.

She described her childhood as great.  She was happy with her loving hippy parents and their fun-loving attitude while growing up in L.A.  Because of them, Starshine was surrounded by music, theaters and television and described playing on the sets of General Hospital and American Bandstand.  She was able to spend weekends on a rural farm with her grandparents who also adored her.  She loved the mud her grandfather made just for her that she could play in all day and the wonderful stories they told her at night. She felt safe in both lives.  One, the unreal, glamorous life played between theater curtains and the other, the reality based, farm life in the barn yard.  She feels the two helped create balance in her own life and fostered her interest in non-fiction.

Starshine and John, a graphic designer, met at UCLA where Starshine graduated Cum Laude. During their courtship, they traveled often to Santa Barbara and were delighted “that it was not like Disneyland," as they had assumed, that there were real people who lived here.  Starshine was working for the Hollywood Reporter at that time.  She decided she wanted to live in Santa Barbara and that she wanted to work for the News-Press.  She wanted to be in the Feature’s Department and even selected the balcony off the office she wanted for her own while sitting on the grass in front of De La Guerra Plaza, Starshine knew what she wanted and set her goals to achieve it; and achieve it, she did!

Last year was a rough year for Starshine Roshell.  Her parents split after 30 years of marriage.  Her Features’ column was eliminated and so she resigned from the News-Press.  It had been “the best job she had ever had.”  She then realized how identity was tied to her job.  And now she was not sure who she was.

This, on the positive side, allowed her to decide what she wants to be now.  In that she had worked full time since her oldest child was born, she needed to identify her skills and seek new employment to stay in the area she loves.  Noting that her skills are writing, typing and loving to tell stories, and after having an epiphany while swimming in the ocean (which she also loves to do); her decision was to make people laugh!  It began with a giggle while she was swimming in the cool ocean current absorbing the beauty and peace that surrounded her.  She began to smile, then chuckle and finally laughed out loud.  She immediately felt better and thought perhaps that humor heals and that she could help others do the same.

There were many questions after Starshine’s presentation.  The audience noted that she was able to say, “I don’t know,” or to tell her truth in the moment.  This answer came when she was asked to explain more about what exactly encompasses self-esteem.

There were many additional references in her speech as to how her self-esteem has evolved even though Starshine was un-aware they were tied to her own personality.  She takes pride in her work; she does what she fears; she is serious about integrity, which to her means “giving the same answer to a question no matter who's asking.”  Starshine recently stood up for what she knew was right and understands the importance of self-talk.  That means telling yourself what is positive and works for you rather than what is negative and makes you feel bad.

The packed audience left feeling good about what they had heard and had learned hearing Starshine share her personal journey to self-esteem.

*The underlined phrases note characteristics of people with high self-esteem.

  The National Council for Self-Esteem’s definition for self-esteem is:”The experience of being able to meet life’s challenges and of being worthy of happiness.”

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