Terri Abrahamson:  

school activities. I would go to my prom and join in activities like drama. But I was partying all the time, dating much older guys, and thought that school stuff was for nerds. Yup, wish I had it all to do over again. . . College The company I work for (New United Motor Mfg., Inc.) had an on-site AA course through Ohlone College. I always thought about going back to school to get a degree, but I seemed to always talk myself out of it for one reason or another. This was a great set up, and I got my AA degree in Liberal Arts. I basically just didn't want my "brain to leak out of my ears." Also, even though I got almost straight A's throughout school, I never thought of myself as smart, because I told myself that "I never took the hard classes." Well, I guess I am smart, because I graduated with a 4.0! Algebra almost killed me, but I did it! I was all set to start on my BA. I wanted to get a degree in Human Development through Cal State Hayward. Then I saw how much it cost! It freaked me out, and stopped me dead in my tracks. Until I know what I'd do with the degree, that's a lot of money to spend "just to go to school." I did attend several ASL (American Sign Language) classes up at the Ohlone campus. I just love the language. There are about 15 Deaf people who work at NUMMI, and I found myself watching them sign, thought it was a beautiful language, and wanted to learn it. I made the mistake of stopping when I changed departments and my hours changed, because the hours wouldn't be convenient. I never should have stopped. Now I've lost my momentum, would have to retake the last course to get back into practice, and it's hard to do that. But I will go back eventually. Workplace After graduating from Heald in 1981 with a degree in secretarial work (or whatever politically incorrect terms they used), I've worked at four jobs: Mills College, Core-Mark Distributors, Southern Alameda County Board of Realtors, and now NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.) for the past 17 years. I've always been an Executive Assistant (which is only as interesting as your boss is). My dream job would be to work with dogs in some capacity, but I haven't figured out how to let go of security, decent $$, and good benefits to venture out on a career with pooches. And now that I'm 45, I'm having those "mid-life crisis moments"....thinking, "Do I want to keep doing this for the rest of my life? If not, shouldn't I make a change now before I get any older? But how do you just walk away from relative financial security to venture out on something unknown...even if it may end up being my passion in life?" When I hit a bump with my boss last year, I started checking out other job possibilities. I found the PERFECT job for me at the SF SPCA. It was being the Executive Assistant to the Director of the Hearing Dog Program. Not only would I have the skills to do the job, but it would be in an environment where I'd be around dogs, people who love dogs, etc., all day long! And on top of that, the program provides Deaf and Hard of Hearing people with companion/service dogs, so I'd be able to make use of my ASL skills and knowledge of Deaf Culture. I did apply for the job, but I didn't get it. I don't know if I make too much money for a position at a non-profit agency, or if it just wasn't the right time or what. But what the experience showed me is that when it is time for me to leave my job, I do NOT want to just go to work in another environment where I don't care two hoots about what the company does (i.e., make cars). I want to work with dogs...period.