I had this conversation IRL recently, what I would have done had I not done what I did for years for a living. I chose to be a journalist, and I chose that job when I was 9, turning 10.
All I knew about being a journalist at the time — things I learned from old movies on television — was that women journalists dressed great, talked tough, traveled, and didn’t take crap off of anybody. That sounded like the perfect career for me.
I was fairly single-minded in my pursuit of that career and so I did not notice other opportunities that may or may not have come my way.
How about you? Did you choose your career? Or did it choose you? And happy weekend.
I had always wanted to be a teacher, so I became a Middle School teacher of English and French. However, the school in which I taught had low pay and a very minimal pension, so I switched to nursing. I am a woman in my 70s, and at the time of my youth, the options for a job (or career) were: teacher, nurse, secretary, hairdresser, or housewife.
Isn't it amazing? I took typing and told Mrs. Coburn up front that I was not intending to be a secretary, but a journalist. I felt the need to set her straight (I am only a few years younger than you).
I had always wanted to be a physician. Started out in pre-med and was happy...until a dean called me in "for a chat". The chat consisted of said dean informing me that the world did not need any more Jewish doctors, let alone female Jewish doctors. I was told to change my major and, should I choose not to, he was quite certain my scholarship would be withdrawn. So, I changed to a dual in political science and secondary education with minor concentrations in history, public affairs and religion (religion because of its inextricable role in the other areas). Later I added an MS in technology and media. For 34 years, I had the pleasure and honor of being a teaching librarian. I might not have delivered them as babies, but I taught and cared for those children, hopefully imparting skills, knowledge, and a sense that they could pursue their dreams and become whoever they wanted to be.
Jul 7, 2023·edited Jul 7, 2023Liked by Susan Campbell
Ava, the first part of your post made me angry, the rest is beautiful. Thanks for not letting your experience with (may I say) the asshole dean, rule. And thanks for your work.
As a kid the New Haven Register was delivered to my home daily. ( afternoon paper) Read it each day, that’s what piqued my interest to be a journalist. In elementary school I found a love for writing— which blossomed. By junior high ( middle school) I decided to pursue journalism, rather than creative writing. Best career decision ever!
My boyhood heros included Thomas Edison & Alexander Graham Bell. By age 10 or so I was repairing relative's & neighbor's radios, tvs, & stereos. After college and having had it with 20+ years of industry jobs I began Consulting in my field of Electrical Safety. That led to a quarter-century of worldwide travel and the balance of my working life.
My lowly English degree has served me well for 50-plus years in all areas of journalism. I take a certain amount of pride that I've been able to adapt to the changes in the field -- from typewriters to computer design and layout, staff jobs to freelance, print and online. I knew in high school what I wanted to do and pursued it. My college didn't offer a journalism major, so I majored in English, It was assumed that I would teach -- no! My "last frontier" was having a book published, "The Art of Raising a Kitten."
My field of work chose me, starting with being a day camp counselor for kids with developmental issues when I was twelve. Later, after some time in direct service and through involvement with my Union, I rode the labor/management fence, providing placement counseling to employees in a closing institution. Facilitating planning sessions and consulting for work groups in residential programs around the state on safety and quality of care issues, establishing and running an Employee Assistance Program, conducting leadership and diversity training. All opportunities growing from negotiated language in our contract. I was kind of plug and play before it was a thing. It kept things interesting.
So no regrets, however (not that you asked) I sometimes think I would trade it all to have been a be-bop saxophone player in Greenwich Village in the late forties into the fifties. I can thank my parents for that, putting Lester Young on the hi-fi and me sitting transfixed on the floor.
Jul 7, 2023·edited Jul 7, 2023Liked by Susan Campbell
Susan we are cut from the same cloth. I never planned to do anything else. It felt right. Has always felt right. There's an ethical basis and a moral imperative to reporting the truth. For some reason whenever I think of trying something else, I find myself back at square one asking whether I'd be able to live with myself doing anything less. That said, I have always known that I might eventually be forced to do something else. But I hope not.
It's been a weird life for me since I left Mother Courant...11 year ago now. I still identify myself as a journalist, though I'm a part-time one and am I teacher full-time. I find a lot of things are similar in both jobs, and that is where I find joy.
I planned on being a journalist. Edited my college newspaper. Did a summer internship at a local newspaper (the old Shoreline Times in Guilford, CT). Ended up in hospital public relations. That lasted for six years until I realized I was becoming a hospital administrator. (No, thank you.) Went back to school to get a Masters in Teaching and never looked back. Just finished my 32nd year as a high school English teacher. Still very grateful, despite the ever-expanding challenges.
At about 9 years of age, I read a book entitled "Light in the Jungle". Plot: "Doctor and nurse go to the Amazon River, live on a boat, practice medicine and spread the word of the Lord. The End." I was a Bible thumping, Christian child and believed Jesus had personally led me to this book to show me my true vocation. I was to be a medical missionary to the Amazon!
Fast forward to college where I became a raging alcoholic and lost the next 15 years of my life to Jim Beam and Miller Light. I finally did breakup with ole' Jim and Miller it took another 10 long years for my alcohol-soaked, broken heart to heal. For sanity to return. For dreams to resurrect.
While investigating the steps I now needed to take for admission to med school, I was told (*cough, cough* by UCONN no less) that it was unlikely I would be accepted into any medical school. I did not have sufficient "good years left to serve" to justify taking a slot from a younger student.
I cried, became angry and looked for alternative route. At 45 years of age I graduated from a more forward thinking university with a MHS, Physician Assistant.
Despite have not having " many good years" left for service, I've participated in and led many medical missions to third world countries. I've exchanged my Bible for The Handbook of Tropical Medicine. And, yes, I've been to and practiced medicine on the Amazon River.
Tracy Civitillo, P.A.-C., currently living on a boat.
My Dad worked for the same company, A.B. Dick, for over 40 years. My father in law put in about as many years for Grinnell. In both cases these hardworking, loyal employees were treated like sh*t as new management spurred by corporate takeovers cut costs, services and benefits. Watching them be defeated by corporists convinced me to enter the public sector where there was less money but better benefits AND a pension! I achieved my goal, was able to be mostly successful for 25 years in providing for my family, then retiring early with a fair pension. That’s my story and God bless my Dad who departed at age 60 never having collected a cent from SS, not to mention the pittance of his watered down pension! At least my father in law got to enjoy several years of retirement watching his grandkids grow up. With all that is happening in our troubled world my advice is do what makes you happy. Sorry for rambling on……
I had always wanted to be a teacher, so I became a Middle School teacher of English and French. However, the school in which I taught had low pay and a very minimal pension, so I switched to nursing. I am a woman in my 70s, and at the time of my youth, the options for a job (or career) were: teacher, nurse, secretary, hairdresser, or housewife.
Isn't it amazing? I took typing and told Mrs. Coburn up front that I was not intending to be a secretary, but a journalist. I felt the need to set her straight (I am only a few years younger than you).
I had always wanted to be a physician. Started out in pre-med and was happy...until a dean called me in "for a chat". The chat consisted of said dean informing me that the world did not need any more Jewish doctors, let alone female Jewish doctors. I was told to change my major and, should I choose not to, he was quite certain my scholarship would be withdrawn. So, I changed to a dual in political science and secondary education with minor concentrations in history, public affairs and religion (religion because of its inextricable role in the other areas). Later I added an MS in technology and media. For 34 years, I had the pleasure and honor of being a teaching librarian. I might not have delivered them as babies, but I taught and cared for those children, hopefully imparting skills, knowledge, and a sense that they could pursue their dreams and become whoever they wanted to be.
Wow. I can't even respond to this without anger. So give me a minute, though look at the life you built.
When one doors closes... and it was a big, beautiful door that opened instead.
Ava, the first part of your post made me angry, the rest is beautiful. Thanks for not letting your experience with (may I say) the asshole dean, rule. And thanks for your work.
What Paul said.
May that dean and all his fellow misogynists rot in hell! Bravo for you and your success.
As a kid the New Haven Register was delivered to my home daily. ( afternoon paper) Read it each day, that’s what piqued my interest to be a journalist. In elementary school I found a love for writing— which blossomed. By junior high ( middle school) I decided to pursue journalism, rather than creative writing. Best career decision ever!
Amen. And oh! what you added to the industry.
Right back at you. Enjoy the weekend.
As a kid I read all the Cherry Ames RN books. I decided at age nine that nursing was my career. I never thought about anything else. And so I did!
I now have an interior design business… funny the way life turns out.
What an interesting segue.
Right brain /Left brain 🤷♀️
My boyhood heros included Thomas Edison & Alexander Graham Bell. By age 10 or so I was repairing relative's & neighbor's radios, tvs, & stereos. After college and having had it with 20+ years of industry jobs I began Consulting in my field of Electrical Safety. That led to a quarter-century of worldwide travel and the balance of my working life.
I envy you your travel, a little bit.
My lowly English degree has served me well for 50-plus years in all areas of journalism. I take a certain amount of pride that I've been able to adapt to the changes in the field -- from typewriters to computer design and layout, staff jobs to freelance, print and online. I knew in high school what I wanted to do and pursued it. My college didn't offer a journalism major, so I majored in English, It was assumed that I would teach -- no! My "last frontier" was having a book published, "The Art of Raising a Kitten."
Isn't that wonderful!
My field of work chose me, starting with being a day camp counselor for kids with developmental issues when I was twelve. Later, after some time in direct service and through involvement with my Union, I rode the labor/management fence, providing placement counseling to employees in a closing institution. Facilitating planning sessions and consulting for work groups in residential programs around the state on safety and quality of care issues, establishing and running an Employee Assistance Program, conducting leadership and diversity training. All opportunities growing from negotiated language in our contract. I was kind of plug and play before it was a thing. It kept things interesting.
So no regrets, however (not that you asked) I sometimes think I would trade it all to have been a be-bop saxophone player in Greenwich Village in the late forties into the fifties. I can thank my parents for that, putting Lester Young on the hi-fi and me sitting transfixed on the floor.
If we can time travel, I want to be a train robber in the Old West. But isn't that interesting, that at 12 you just knew.
Yeah, I had a stretch of construction and restaurant work in my teens and twenties but I always came back.
Susan we are cut from the same cloth. I never planned to do anything else. It felt right. Has always felt right. There's an ethical basis and a moral imperative to reporting the truth. For some reason whenever I think of trying something else, I find myself back at square one asking whether I'd be able to live with myself doing anything less. That said, I have always known that I might eventually be forced to do something else. But I hope not.
It's been a weird life for me since I left Mother Courant...11 year ago now. I still identify myself as a journalist, though I'm a part-time one and am I teacher full-time. I find a lot of things are similar in both jobs, and that is where I find joy.
I planned on being a journalist. Edited my college newspaper. Did a summer internship at a local newspaper (the old Shoreline Times in Guilford, CT). Ended up in hospital public relations. That lasted for six years until I realized I was becoming a hospital administrator. (No, thank you.) Went back to school to get a Masters in Teaching and never looked back. Just finished my 32nd year as a high school English teacher. Still very grateful, despite the ever-expanding challenges.
Wow. That's impressive, 32 years.
At about 9 years of age, I read a book entitled "Light in the Jungle". Plot: "Doctor and nurse go to the Amazon River, live on a boat, practice medicine and spread the word of the Lord. The End." I was a Bible thumping, Christian child and believed Jesus had personally led me to this book to show me my true vocation. I was to be a medical missionary to the Amazon!
Fast forward to college where I became a raging alcoholic and lost the next 15 years of my life to Jim Beam and Miller Light. I finally did breakup with ole' Jim and Miller it took another 10 long years for my alcohol-soaked, broken heart to heal. For sanity to return. For dreams to resurrect.
While investigating the steps I now needed to take for admission to med school, I was told (*cough, cough* by UCONN no less) that it was unlikely I would be accepted into any medical school. I did not have sufficient "good years left to serve" to justify taking a slot from a younger student.
I cried, became angry and looked for alternative route. At 45 years of age I graduated from a more forward thinking university with a MHS, Physician Assistant.
Despite have not having " many good years" left for service, I've participated in and led many medical missions to third world countries. I've exchanged my Bible for The Handbook of Tropical Medicine. And, yes, I've been to and practiced medicine on the Amazon River.
Tracy Civitillo, P.A.-C., currently living on a boat.
My Dad worked for the same company, A.B. Dick, for over 40 years. My father in law put in about as many years for Grinnell. In both cases these hardworking, loyal employees were treated like sh*t as new management spurred by corporate takeovers cut costs, services and benefits. Watching them be defeated by corporists convinced me to enter the public sector where there was less money but better benefits AND a pension! I achieved my goal, was able to be mostly successful for 25 years in providing for my family, then retiring early with a fair pension. That’s my story and God bless my Dad who departed at age 60 never having collected a cent from SS, not to mention the pittance of his watered down pension! At least my father in law got to enjoy several years of retirement watching his grandkids grow up. With all that is happening in our troubled world my advice is do what makes you happy. Sorry for rambling on……
That meant you were paying attention to the world around you. Well done.