OBJECTIONS ANYONE…? December 31, 2010 by Dolores Ayotte
MEMORY LANE
When I was graduating from high school, it seemed that there weren’t many career choices for me. I’m not so sure if it was the fact that I was a female or if it had to do more with my financial situation or merely just plain lack of opportunity. Perhaps, it was a combination of all three.
In my nuclear family, it was far more the exception to get a university degree than it was the rule. Out of the six children, only two of us have a university education. This was not easy to attain especially in my situation because I only managed to receive my degree on a part-time basis after I got married and while raising my young family.
Upon graduating from high school, it seemed that the majority of females, although not all, chose some kind of secretarial work, teaching, or nursing career. I was no different. A one year teacher certification program was being offered for free due to the shortage of teachers in our province. I jumped at the chance. I then proceeded to further educate myself at my own financial expense.
When I look at my high school year book, under my picture is the caption, Dolores “wants to be a lawyer…objections anyone?” As I recall that comment, I smile to myself. Today, I know for certain I am a teacher but I must admit, there is still something inside of me that is every bit the lawyer. I don’t mean when it comes to matters of law, as much as the desire to “defend” a person who is being slandered or to “defend” a worthy cause. I figure we can have all kinds of “callings” without an official designation. What do you think? Please let me know if you have a calling too that’s yet to be realized. Perhaps like me, circumstances prevented you from fulfilling your initial dream or aspiration but maybe you’ve figured out how to feel rewarded nonetheless.
Happy New Year Everyone! I wish you much peace, health and happiness in the year to come. I would also like to thank you for the support and encouragement you have shown me over the last several months!
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QUOTES AND ANECDOTES
“The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment; it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone. ” (Orison Swett Marden)
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A Woman's Voice 
on December 31, 2010 on 6:40 am
you wanted to be a lawyer? Defending others who couldn’t defend themselves…hmmmm. I think you do that in so many ways….everyday…with your kindness and genuine spirit. Happy New Year Dolores.
on December 31, 2010 on 6:54 am
Hey…Thank you very much Nikki! I think you have the very same kind of spirit. It’s the reason we found each other. Take “gentle” care.
on December 31, 2010 on 6:54 am
When I was in high school, I was fascinated with the idea of being a secretary, and I was one for 7 years at one firm, and the last one for 38 years. Unfortunately, they let me go this past week so they could hire paralegals instead. I often wish I’d looked into a different career path, but the longer you stay at one job, the harder it is to break away. Now I have no choice. I’m not sure if I want to be a secretary again. I’m keeping an open mind about it.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
on December 31, 2010 on 7:10 am
Morgan…I am so sorry to hear about your job loss. I will say a special prayer for you so that you find a new job you like every bit as much as your old one. Thanks for your comment and blessings to you and yours!
on December 31, 2010 on 8:20 am
Morgan,
I used to be fascinated with secretaries when I was in high school, too. I loved their nice clothes, pretty hair, and long pretty painted fingernails. I became a secretary, a legal secretary at first, then one for the state, working at a university and at a hospital for a time. Enjoyed it. Then, I went back to school and became a teacher. Good luck and best wishes, I would say on finding a new position, but instead, I will say pray. Prayer works, wishes don’t always come true :). I pray you will find something else you’ll enjoy. It’s hard to change after so many years in one position. I know the feeling. May God bless you.
Barb
on December 31, 2010 on 6:56 am
Happy New Year Sis may you and yours have a blessed 2011. I look forward to more fellowship with you in the new year. God bless
on December 31, 2010 on 7:03 am
Happy New Year to you too sis….and I also look forward to more fellowship with you in 2011! Blessings to you and yours.
on December 31, 2010 on 8:31 am
Enjoyed your last post of 2010 and what a great one for reflection to end the year and begin a new year! I started out as waitress, then secretary, then teacher, and I’d always hoped to be able to combine the loves and passions of my life to benefit my students. I’m an avid reader, and my passions are reading and writing. I co-sponsored a creative writing club for ten years with a partner teacher, and I sponored one for several years. During that time, I saw many of my students published in local newspapers or other local publications, and I had one who was published in a Chicken Soup book. One mother thanked me after she lost her son after a heart transplant. At that time, I taught English and reading for a junior high school. I know I made a difference. She told me because I had her son write, she had his writings, and she’d saved all his newspaper clippings, so she had those to remember her son. Of course, I know as a mother, I would remember my son with or without newspaper clippings, but I know what she meant. She said she valued having his own words and writing. I think she made a scrapbook. I thank God for having the opportunity for teaching him. He was a wonderful young man.
The only other career I’d want would be one of a writer and that’s always been one of my heart’s desires. Teaching was the other, and God gave me that one. He wanted me in the classroom. In His time, I pray He’ll use my writing to touch and heal hearts for His Kingdom.
God bless. I write this through tears as I reflect upon the many differences I have made for some with both my teaching and writing combined, which is what my heart’s desire was. So, in reflection, God granted me that, too. A friend and colleague once told me I’d made many differences for others through my writing, and she knew of no one else with the passion for writing I had. Those were some of the happiest, fullfilled years of my life. I knew my students better then, too. You get to know people when you work with them writing. You form bonds. This was the post of the year! Thank you. You made a difference with this one!
Blessings,
Barb
on December 31, 2010 on 9:21 am
Oh Barb…you have given me an incredible Christmas and New Year’s present all wrapped up in one huge bow! I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful, kind words and for your support and encourgement over the last several months.
You have not only followed my blog but your comments and contributions to “A Wo-Man’s Voice” have added to its success. Your unconditional support and enthusiam show the true me of the living “Word of God” here on earth. I appreciate all your efforts as a teacher and a writer and I’m sure you have touched many hearts and made a huge difference in many people’s lives. Thanks for being you!
on January 2, 2011 on 9:44 am
Thanks, Dolores. Your friendship means so much, and I’ve so enjoyed your blog and participating with it.
Blessings in the new year and all year,
Barb
on January 2, 2011 on 10:39 am
Thanks Barb…the feeling is mutual! Your friendship means a great deal to me too! Blessings to you.
on December 31, 2010 on 9:07 am
Love this blog. It is so true of those of us who grew up before the “women’s movement” gave us a greater choice of career opportunities. However, we can always go back and pick up what we missed if it is important enough to do the sacrifice. The important consideration is “are we following God’s will for our lives?” Sometimes His will and ours doesn’t exactly match, but we must remember that He created us for a purpose and when we are following that, we are being our true selves, not filling a role society has defined for us.
on December 31, 2010 on 9:14 am
Gigi…thanks so much for your comments. Yes, it is so true that before the “women’s movement” many of us didn’t have the choices that women do today. I so agree with you about doing God’s Will. He does work in such mysterious and creative ways that He figures out quite easily how to use the talents each and everyone of us has to offer no matter how insignificant we might feel them to be. Blessings to you and yours!
on December 31, 2010 on 9:33 am
Thank you so much for the post. Isn’t it interesting what we think we’re going to do and then what we end up doing. I was going to be a teacher. Apart from teaching children and grandchildren with a bit of Sunday school I never did it. In fact, I think I’ve changed my career multiple times. Happy New Year to you!
on December 31, 2010 on 9:39 am
kathy…you are very welcome. I really enjoyed your post on “Looking Back” yesterday. I think you have a teacher’s heart and have figured out quite well how to share your words of wisdom with all of us. I wish you and yours all the best in 2011.
on January 3, 2011 on 1:44 pm
Hi Dolores,
This new year is one I face without my husband. I’ve been reading your blogs now and again but have not made comment. I so enjoyed what you shared about your career and education. Good for you! For me I had no choice but to go into nursing. If you’ve read my book, you’ll know that was the case. However the nursing profession evolved through the years and many have degrees, Phd’s and doctorates in that noble profession today. I took several post grad courses in my later years. But it wasn’t what I really wanted to do. I had a yen to be a film star in my younger days. I have to smile at that, because I was desparately shy. May be it was good that Reverend Mother made me go into nursing!
on January 3, 2011 on 4:48 pm
Hi Mary…thanks so much for taking a moment to comment today. I know it hasn’t been easy for you over the last few months with the loss of your husband. I’m sure Christmas was especially difficult.
It’s neat that you wanted to be an actress but ended up a nurse because of Reverend Mother. No I haven’t read your book yet but I would love to. Maybe we can do a swap. I would love to trade books with you. What do you think?