Class Memories

I was not one of those kids who knew early on that she wanted to be a nurse; I never put band-aids on my dollies or took care of a sick puppy. However, I did know that I wanted to go to college. In the 1950's and '60's becoming a nurse was among the more obvious choices for women, so that would be my major. Among several fine nursing programs I chose the University of Rochester and arrived there in 1959 to start the first two years of my education on the River Campus.

By junior year it was time for the real challenge, confronting the reality of beginning to care for patients and to take on the responsibilities for which we were being prepared. Part way into that year I became very discouraged. Wanting to be a perfect student and being nowhere near that, I decided to give up and go home. I thought long and hard about it and had already packed my bags when I called home tearfully to announce my decision to my parents. My father told me to "sit tight" and he came from Pennsylvania to Rochester, took me out to dinner and said to me, "It's your decision, Linda, but you know you have to have a way to make a living." I heard and understood his words of advice. As a result I stayed, graduated, and went on to "make a living" as a professional nurse for 35 years. My profession sustained me through good times as well as bad.

Because of this I have given support to the School of Nursing, so that current and future students can benefit not only from the education that sustained me, but also, in a round-about way, from my father's advice