It was my mother's idea that I go "into nursing". The Episcopal priest from the church we attended visited us one hot August day prior to my entering high school. He suggested a particular school in New York City. Over time I sent for information, jumped through the hoops to apply and was acepted at the end of my junior year in high school. This was a diploma progrma also known as a three year program. However, we DID NOT have summers off so it was basically four years of slave labor. We paid little tuition and as soon as we learned a few skills we worked in the hospital as staff. There were many days of high anxiety when we were yelled at by the graduate nurses on the wards. During our probationary period of 6 months, when we were on probation we were required to attend chapel. This hospital was founded by an Episcopal priest in the 1800's. the service was Evensong which to this day is my favorite service. It was wonderful to be in worship with my peers, there often were tears shed, but a definate sence of cohesiveness among us. In May of 2009 I had the pleasure to attend Evensong just for the graduates of St. Luke's led by the Dean of the Cathedral of St.John the Devine in New York City. In 1956, my graduation was held there as all graduations from St.Lukes over the years were. On my finishing day ( we were required to be there so many days so few people finished on the same day) I vowed I would never, ever work as hard as I did as a student nurse! And I did not!
For several years after graduation I worked as a staff nurse in various hospitals. While in the Philippines, I attended the University of the Philippines to keep my sanity. I returned from there to Columbus, Ohio and got a job teaching nursing. Over the next 10 years I obtained a BS and an MS in Nursing. I have been teaching for over 40 years. As in any job, it's had its ups and downs.
My 35 year old nephew was shocked to learn that when I was selecting a career only teaching, secretarial work or nursing was available to me.
Looking back at my work record, I was a very good nurse and an exceptional teacher; however if I had it do over again, I would go to law school!