Koru Mindfulness Teacher
Chere Peguesse
My name is Chere Peguesse. I’m a Caucasian, cisgender female, 58, married for the second time. I come from an Air Force family and was born in Izmir, Turkey. My dad was a veterinarian and public health inspector, and my mother was a special education teacher. Both my parents suffered from anxiety, depression, and addiction, which they thought was normal and shameful at the same time, and so it wasn't talked about. I have one younger brother and both of us have struggled with anxiety, depression and addiction. At the same time, we had large chunks of time in our childhood that were wonderful, living in Louisiana, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, and Arizona, with many road trips across the country to visit relatives in Georgia and Florida.
Today, I work at Valdosta State University, which stands on ground taken from four indigenous tribes: the Timucua, Oconee, Hitchiti, and Miccosukee people. I also want to acknowledge that of the 2400 slaves who worked the cotton plantations in Lowndes County in the 1800’s, 14 unknown slaves are buried in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. I acknowledge and respect all the people, plants, and animals that made it possible to be sitting here today, in this building, in this moment.
As an academic, I have earned my PhD in English and currently direct the Academic Support Center. I’ve been at VSU for 22 years. I have had a personal meditation practice for 18 years, which has helped me manage my anxiety, quit smoking, break my addiction to sleeping pills, and generally become a happier, nicer person, especially according to my husband, who married me 18 years ago in spite of my being a hot mess at the time. My Koru Teacher Training has transformed my long-time practice in just five weeks, deepening a sense of stable, confident happiness and gratitude for the training. I am honored and privileged to offer these practices to students and colleagues at my university, and I hope to continue into retirement!
Entry created January 23, 2023