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DAVIS SCHOLAR PROFILE >
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE DAVIS DEGREE PROGRAM?
I grew up in a dying steel town outside of Philadelphia and, by local convention, considered my career choices to be limited to teaching, secretarial work, or nursing. With few role models or mentors to expand my aspirations, I settled on nursing, which offered a respected career and financial stability. It also provided the vehicle for me to explore the world beyond the confines of a small-town and the security of a large family. Along the way, my desire for a broader educational experience was born. However, the need to financially support myself and, following the role model of my mother, the subordination of my own interests and career to those of family, kept me from pursuing this second academic goal.
There have been many detours on my long and winding road to an undergraduate degree. After completing my nursing diploma program, I moved to Hawaii and became a flight attendant, following my desire to experience other countries and culture. I moved to California and then set up residence eight times in six states over the next few years. These relocations, a byproduct of work, marriage, and family, provided an education on many levels but hindered my return to the formal classroom. By far, the biggest detour to an undergraduate degree has been my choice to stay home as a full-time parent, allowing me to grow exponentially along with my two daughters through their infancy, childhood, and current life as college students.
My past has indeed informed my present and it has taught me to respect the value of a liberal arts education. So, instead of transitioning back into the workforce with my nursing background in mind, and recognizing that I was out of sync with the career for which I had been trained, I realized that what I truly wanted was to move beyond the narrow applied-knowledge base of my nursing education to the broader-based approach that comes from a strong liberal arts background. An investment in my future - a baccalaureate degree from Wellesley College - brought me to the Davis Degree program.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH ON CAMPUS?
As a commuting student, and single (divorced) mother of two teenage daughters, my campus involvement and experience with the Davis Scholar Community has always been pleasant but minimal.
While traditional students juggle academics, extracurricular activities (sports, music, theater, etc.), and the steep learning curve of first-time independence from family, as a non-traditional student I juggle a different set of balls. As a fifty-three-year-old “non-trad,” I juggle coursework along with family responsibilities, commitments, and calendars. Involvement in campus opportunities such as lectures, clubs and organizations, and a myriad of other activities, are passed up in lieu of providing family meals, support and cheers at athletic events, academic oversight, and, perhaps most fun of all, grabbing that ever-more elusive opportunity to play a game of backgammon.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT WELLESLEY?
Hands down, my favorite thing about Wellesley is the opportunity to take classes with traditional-age students. I have observed the dedication and diligence of my college-age daughters (one at UPenn, the other at Princeton), and it is an honor to attend classes with their peer group. As a nontraditional student, working alongside traditional-age Wellesley students bridges the generation gap, expands my world of friendships, and deepens my relationship with my daughters. I am truly fortunate to benefit in these and other ways as I pursue the excellent and intimate liberal arts education offered at Wellesley. Besides, taking classes with traditional-age students allows me to roll out of bed, pull back my hair, throw on my jeans, and arrive to class feeling young and invigorated!
WHAT
DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT BOSTON?
Boston has much to offer and seldom disappoints, even when it dishes up long and snowy winters. An easily navigable city, accessible mountains and beaches, and an endless variety of dining, art, and entertainment options suit my many moods and interests. An avid runner and athlete, I have completed two Boston Marathons as well as three half-marathons and six triathlons, and I enjoy access to hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Most of all, I love the distinct and rhythmic change of seasons.
WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO AFTER GRADUATION?
After graduation I can visualize working in a management position with a non-profit organization, making use of my medical knowledge, my organizational abilities, and my leadership skills in combination with those passions as yet undiscovered.
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