Sometimes, the hardest person to convince of our potential is ourselves. For Rachel Battaglia, learning to believe in the leader others already saw in her became one of the most meaningful parts of her journey.
There is a kind of leadership that rarely asks for attention.
It shows up in the coworker who takes time to help someone new learn the ropes. The person who comes across a helpful resource and immediately thinks about who else could use it. The one who notices what needs to be done, rolls up their sleeves, and gets to work without wondering who will receive the credit.
At Voices of Hope Maryland, Rachel Battaglia has been that person.
And here's what makes her story so meaningful.
While Rachel was still learning to recognize her own leadership potential, the people around her were already experiencing it.
They saw it in her willingness to help. They saw it in the knowledge she shared, the responsibilities she accepted, and the way she supported those around her.
What they couldn't necessarily see were the moments when Rachel questioned her own abilities or had to push herself beyond what felt comfortable.
Yet she kept growing.
Today, we're celebrating Rachel, a participant in Voices of Hope Maryland's Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers (RAMP) Grant Program, and her achievement of becoming one of our newest Registered Peer Supervisors (RPS). Through RAMP, Rachel received support toward this next professional milestone. But this story is about something even greater than a grant or a credential.
It's about finding purpose, discovering confidence, and realizing that sometimes the person you've been working so hard to become has been taking shape through the things you've been doing all along.
The Search for Something More
Before Rachel found her place in peer recovery support, she was working in a completely different profession.
As a cosmetologist, she enjoyed the creativity of her work and the opportunity to help people feel good about themselves. She appreciated the personal connections that came with her profession.
But beneath that satisfaction was a feeling she couldn't ignore.
Something was missing.
Rachel wanted her work to carry a deeper sense of purpose. She wanted to contribute to something meaningful and make a difference in people's lives.
It wasn't necessarily about leaving everything she knew behind. It was about discovering where her desire to help others could lead her next.
That search eventually brought her into peer recovery support.
And what began as a career change would become an opportunity for Rachel to discover strengths she hadn't yet fully recognized.
She became involved with Voices of Hope Maryland as a volunteer, building experience before continuing her journey as an employee.
Through training, hands-on experience, and continued professional development, Rachel earned her Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential. She later expanded her skills by becoming a certified Community Health Worker (CHW).
Each achievement added another layer to her knowledge and expanded the ways she could support others.
But there was something taking shape beyond the certifications.
While Rachel was learning how to become a stronger peer professional, she was also developing the qualities of a leader.
And she was doing it through the work itself.
The Leader People Were Already Seeing
Long before Rachel earned her RPS credential, Voices of Hope's Harford leadership publicly recognized her for the many ways she contributed to the team.
Their recognition wasn't centered on a certification, a promotion, or a single impressive accomplishment.
It was about everything Rachel was doing when the spotlight wasn't on her.
She was helping prepare community events, supporting the center's social media efforts, keeping track of inventory, and mentoring new staff members.
Often, she was balancing several of these responsibilities at once.
What stood out to her supervisors wasn't simply how much Rachel accomplished. It was the dedication she brought to the work and her willingness to help without seeking recognition.
Think about what that means.
While Rachel was still learning to believe in her own leadership abilities, she was already someone newer employees could turn to for guidance.
While she was still growing into her professional confidence, she was taking on responsibilities that helped others do their jobs.
While she was still discovering her potential, her colleagues were recognizing the value she brought to their team.
And that quiet, consistent commitment didn't stop there.
Her attendance at professional conference and outreach, to bring back the knowledge and resources she’s gained with her coworkers and participants, shared housing resources, supported Narcan training efforts, helped raise awareness around alcohol-related concerns, and contributed to activities that brought staff and community members together.
None of these actions required an RPS credential.
They required someone who cared enough to pay attention, take initiative, and think beyond their own responsibilities.
Rachel was already demonstrating one of the most important qualities of effective leadership: understanding that helping other people succeed is part of succeeding yourself.
And still, there was another part of her journey unfolding beneath the surface.
Finding Her Confidence Along the Way
When Rachel reflects on her growth from peer recovery professional to leader, she doesn't describe a perfect journey.
She describes one that challenged her.
"My journey into leadership has had its ups and downs," she shares.
Those words are important because they remind us that even the people we admire for their dedication and abilities can experience uncertainty about themselves.
For Rachel, professional growth meant stepping outside her comfort zone, becoming more aware of her strengths, and learning to trust her own judgment.
It meant finding the confidence to speak up, advocate for herself and others, and become comfortable with responsibilities that once felt unfamiliar.
And it meant accepting that she didn't have to figure everything out on her own.
Rachel speaks with genuine appreciation for the peers and supervisors who supported her throughout the process.
Their encouragement helped her see qualities in herself that she hadn't always fully recognized.
But encouragement alone couldn't do the growing for her.
Rachel still had to take those steps.
She had to be willing to learn when something was unfamiliar, accept feedback when there was room for improvement, and keep moving forward even when her confidence hadn't quite caught up with her abilities.
That's what makes this part of her story so significant.
Rachel didn't wait until she felt completely confident to keep growing. She allowed herself to grow while learning to become more confident.
And somewhere along the way, her understanding of leadership began to change.
It became less about proving what she knew and more about recognizing what she could offer.
She learned that being a leader doesn't mean always having the right answer. It means being willing to listen, ask questions, consider different perspectives, and support others as they develop their own abilities.
That realization brought her journey full circle.
The same kind of encouragement that helped Rachel recognize her potential became something she understood she could offer another person.
The RAMP Opportunity: Supporting the Next Step She Chose to Take
Rachel's story is also a celebration of what becomes possible when dedicated peer professionals have opportunities to keep advancing.
As a participant in Voices of Hope Maryland's Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers (RAMP) Grant Program, Rachel received support toward obtaining her Registered Peer Supervisor certification. The program helps strengthen Maryland's peer recovery workforce by supporting eligible peers as they pursue professional development, certification, and advancement.
For Rachel, RAMP was part of the opportunity to take the next step in a journey she had already worked hard to build.
The program helped support the certification process. Rachel brought the experience, the determination, the willingness to learn, and the leadership she had been developing all along.
Her approval as a Registered Peer Supervisor through the Maryland Addiction and Behavioral-health Professionals Certification Board (MABPCB) marked an important professional achievement.
The RPS credential recognizes her preparation to take on greater responsibility in supporting, mentoring, and guiding other peer recovery professionals.
But for Rachel, this milestone represents more than meeting professional requirements.
It reflects the growth of someone who once questioned whether she could step into leadership and who continued developing the skills, confidence, and perspective needed to do so.
And there is a beautiful connection between where her journey began and where it has brought her.
Rachel entered peer recovery support searching for a greater sense of purpose.
She found opportunities to help people navigate challenges, connect with resources, and discover possibilities.
Then, as she continued growing, she discovered something about herself.
She didn't have to be the most outspoken person in the room to make a difference.
She didn't have to know everything to be valuable.
And she didn't have to become an entirely different person to become a leader.
She could build on the strengths she already possessed while developing the confidence to use them in new ways.
The RPS credential didn't create Rachel's leadership. It recognizes an important next step in the leadership she has been developing through years of service, learning, and dedication.
Becoming the Encouragement Someone Else May Need
Perhaps the most revealing part of Rachel's story is the advice she offers to other peer professionals considering leadership.
She doesn't tell them to wait until they're certain of themselves.
She doesn't suggest that good leaders are people who never have doubts.
Instead, she offers the wisdom of someone who understands how much courage it can take to grow.
"Have confidence in yourself and your abilities, even when you feel unsure. You don't have to know everything or have all the answers to be a good leader."
Rachel encourages others to remain willing to learn, ask questions, accept feedback, and give themselves grace.
She reminds them that the qualities that help someone become a good peer can also help them become a great leader.
Then she offers one final piece of encouragement:
"Most importantly, believe in yourself, even when others see your potential before you see it in yourself."
Read those words again.
Because they reveal something powerful about Rachel.
She isn't simply offering advice about professional advancement.
She's sharing a lesson that came from her own growth.
She knows the value of having someone believe in your abilities when you're still learning to believe in them yourself.
She understands that confidence can take time to develop.
And she recognizes how meaningful it can be when another person notices a strength you haven't yet learned to see.
That's the kind of understanding Rachel now brings into her next chapter as a Registered Peer Supervisor.
Not just knowledge gained from professional training.
Not just experience earned through years of service.
But an appreciation for what it means to be supported, encouraged, challenged, and given room to grow.
And that appreciation has the potential to influence how she supports other peer professionals who are still discovering their own abilities.
The Woman Behind the Milestone
Rachel, as we celebrate your newest accomplishment as an RPS and a RAMP Grant Program participant, we want you to know that we've seen so much more than your progress toward certification.
We've seen the colleague willing to share what she learns so others can be better prepared.
We've seen the team member who contributes to the work that keeps our centers organized, connected, and moving forward.
We've seen the person who helps welcome new staff, supports community activities, and recognizes that even the smallest contributions can make someone's work a little easier.
And now, through your own reflections, we have a greater appreciation for something that wasn't always visible.
The personal growth taking place along the way.
The confidence you were building.
The uncertainty you were learning to work through.
The effort it took to recognize in yourself what others had already begun to see.
You once shared that you left cosmetology because you wanted to find a deeper sense of purpose and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
We hope you can look at everything you've contributed since then and recognize how far that search has brought you.
Not because every challenge has been easy.
Not because you've reached the end of your growth.
But because you continued to discover what you were capable of while using those abilities to support the people around you.
That is something worth being proud of.
And as you move forward as a Registered Peer Supervisor, we hope you carry the same encouragement you've offered to others.
Believe in yourself, Rachel.
Not just because you've earned another credential.
But because of the patience, initiative, determination, and care you've demonstrated throughout your journey.
Congratulations, Rachel Battaglia, on becoming a Registered Peer Supervisor!
Your Voices of Hope family is proud of the professional you've become, grateful for the contributions you continue to make, and excited about the opportunities ahead of you.
And perhaps one of the most meaningful parts of this new chapter is knowing that someday, another peer professional may be struggling to recognize their own potential.
They may need someone to listen, to encourage them, or simply to remind them that they don't have to have everything figured out to take the next step.
And Rachel, you'll understand exactly why that encouragement matters.
