By Guest Columnist Shelley Bennett
Former poet laureate Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This quote came to mind when I asked to be a guest columnist for this week’s edition of “What We Love About this Place Wednesday.”
She definitely makes you feel like you are one of the most awesome people she has seen on any given day.
We are turning the tables today. The author, Terra Avilla, is now the subject. Terra, as most of you know, is a Susanville police officer, mother of two sweet girls (Peach and Pearl), and wife to Frankie. (Most of us would call him coach or Frank, but she gets away with Frankie.) But, did you know how much of her time she spends giving back to our community and changing the lives of everyone she meets?
From Holiday with a Hero, Dancing for a Brand New Me to the Police Explorers and our recent Walk Out of the Darkness, almost everything Terra volunteers to do is connected to giving back to our most valuable resource, the children of Lassen County. She also puts the “fun” in fundraisers, coming up with the Zombie Run, Policeman’s Ball, and turning it up a notch by dancing and singing as a Salvation Army’s bell ringer.
I remember when I first met her. Terra had recently been assigned as Lassen High School’s first resource officer, she was also very pregnant with her first child. Her blonde hair was pulled back in her signature messy bun, blue eyes sparkling, in her (very attractive) maternity uniform, she was recalling the recent active shooter training. It was difficult for me to put together these two images: sweet, glowing mom-to-be with serious cop mode, but that is what I’ve come to love about Terra: her ability to be both things at the same time.
I looked forward to our morning chats, alternatively laughing and then talking seriously about a student or situation. She always knew how to help and didn’t back away from difficult tasks. Since then, she has served as SRO several times over the years and Assistant Principal Josh Blackburn admitted she is the “best one ever”.
Dawn Lightsey, LHS registrar, said, “She is very approachable to our students and has a good heart, but is firm with them. She sees their needs and tries to find ways in our community to support them.” At one point, she volunteered to cut her hair to garner more donations to Brittney’s Closet, which helps local students with prom attire. Terra also spearheaded our lockdown procedures and helped keep students and teachers calm and collected during numerous drills.
Her first Dancing for a Brand New Me dance partner Seanne McElrath, who worked with her in 2013, noted that, “her energy is infectious and positively uplifting. I never had a bad day if I was practicing with Terra.” He describes her as a super hero, who is “fierce, courageous, and strong” and said that she reminds him of his brother Rob except that, “it’s a little strange because she’s only like five feet tall and smells like a kids’ playground.”
From guest star dancer to choreographer to advisory board, Terra has helped Dancing for a Brand New Me become one of Susanville’s premiere fundraisers and community events. On Friday, Terra will dance with Eric Perry to help raise awareness of domestic violence, raise money for locals, and secure bragging rights for a year. (It’s not over ‘til it’s over Terra!)
Police Chief Jones bragged on the awards she has earned over the years, from SPD officer of year (2015 and 2017) to Chief’s Commendations and community awards from Soroptimist, Rotary, and Lassen College’s Zellamae Miles Community Member Award. But none of that has gone to Terra’s head. She is down to earth, funny, and the first to point someone else out who has worked beside her.
Terra makes everybody’s day a little brighter. Friend and LHS teacher Kerrissa Schall commented, “Terra has a personality that makes people feel important. In the last few years that Terra has joined our community she has done nothing but bring out the best in Susanville. She works hard for any cause that she stands behind with a smile on her face the entire time. When you see Terra out with her girls you can’t help but just love their genuine personalities, their individuality, and their love of life.”
In fact that’s why I am writing now. Terra took it upon herself to write a weekly column highlighting the positives of our community. Jeremy Couso, her ‘boss’ at Susanville Stuff writes, “There are some days when I think Terra Avilla is the actual glue that holds this town together. She makes an insane world a little more sane and sets an example we can all follow.”
I agree. I was honored to be the subject of her first installment and I felt that honor had to be paid back. Thank you Terra for being you and bringing out the best in all of us. You truly are “Why We Love this Place” on Wednesday and every other day of the week.
Break a leg!
