Sylvia Leaver:  

The past 40 years have been full, with many highs and lows. After NHS I headed off to UNC-CH and graduated with a BS in Math, working my way through college at the School of Public Health. I moved to the Washington DC area shortly after graduation and have remained here, am now living in Virginia. Since college I've worked as a statistician for the federal government in various agencies. I have enjoyed my jobs, the problems we have tangled with, and especially the people with whom I work. I have 2 wonderful children, a son and a daughter. They have always been my joy, and are now both married and pretty much on their own, though I'll have to say as a parent that one never stops thinking of and worrying about one's children and their well being. My son is working on a post doc in Seattle and my daughter is in grad school. I'm grateful and tickled that both were able to attend UVA for college and UNC-CH for grad school. In 1993 I was diagnosed with cancer and am now 15 years out of diagnosis, doing well in that regard, and grateful to the doctors who treated me so well and quickly and to the friends and family who were so supportive. I lost my father in late 2000 and my dear mother in 2005 following a lengthy battle with cancer. During the last 3 years of her life I was often in Durham helping care for her. I still travel to the Triangle area and my hope is that in a few more years I will retire and return to Chapel Hill. When I became an empty nester, I returned to studio art, which had always been a saving grace f...Expand for more