“My mother had a saying: ‘you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you’re not the last.'”

-Kamala Harris

I have returned to this quote so many times since making this papercut of Kamala Harris. That’s for two reasons.

First, I love asking fellow women about an important piece of wisdom they have learned in their lives. Most often, it’s something passed along to them by someone close: a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a sister, a close friend. So when I saw that Harris had shared this sentiment from her own mother, it really resonated.

We have a tendency to gravitate to the words of writers, artists and thinkers that we don’t know. There’s something about a knowledgeable person sharing a tidbit of information that feels meaningful, valuable. There is also power in the ability to condense complex emotions and concepts into words. It’s why books can resonate so much, why a good speech can bring us to tears.

But as it turns out, some of our most cherished wisdom comes from our closest connections. No matter who we are, we have so much to offer each other.

The second reason that I feel moved by this quote is what’s in Harris and her mother’s words. They remind us that our actions help to set a stage for the future.

I actually made this papercut before Harris announced her presidential campaign, but I believe that her running, as well as other female candidates like Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, does help to set that stage. Whatever we do, when we take action, we have to ensure that those actions are contributing to building a platform that supports others.

After all, we are only as powerful as the groundwork that we build for future change.

This papercut and profile are a part of the Women’s Wisdom Project, a project focused on showcasing the wisdom of inspiring, insightful women by making 100 papercut portraits.