Judith Lister:  

I always tell my 2nd grade students to start at the beginning, then tell the middle, then the end. So... Right after graduating in 1963, I stayed home and kept an eye on my Grandma for a couple of years. When she went into the nursing home, I went to San Diego City College and became a broadcaster (Radio/TV Arts). I took my AA degree and worked at Channel 10 for about 3 years. Another year working as an apartment manager, and I opted for the reliable paychecks offered by the U. S. Army. My Army career lasted for 8 years of active duty, and many more years in the Reserves. I was lucky enough to get all expenses paid, extended visits to Monterey, CA, Indianapolis, IN, Augusta, GA, and the Netherlands, and Germany. Loved it. Traveled all over. Started out a PFC, and left active duty a Captain in the Signal Corps. Found unsuspected strength in my body and spirit, and grew up. Met, married and divorced one soldier, then met and married a civilian from Sacramento. Left active duty when I got pregnant, moved to Sacramento, and started my next quest. After my daughter was born, I went back to school. I had a specific goal of becoming a teacher, but had to complete a Bachelor's first, so I worked hard and earned a BBA. Then, my University opened a teacher training program. I jumped on it, and got that credential as an elementary teacher. Age discrimination does exist, and there were no jobs to be had in California. Substitute teaching, lots of it, but no classroom of my own. Along came the internet, and a job offer from the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe in Nevada. Talk about culture shock! The nearest grocery store was 73 miles away, the high school was in another county, over 37 miles of dirt road, and the place was 20 miles from the nearest state highway, 2 hours from the nearest Walmart, and 4 hours from a city of any size. I was hired on by the public school system the next year, and...Expand for more