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Career Stories is an effort to stimulate thinking
about careers; how individuals found their careers, or in the
case of youngsters, how they are searching for their careers.
The stories also emphasize the successes and failures that all
encounter regardless of age.
9-10 Years
11-13 Years
14-17 Years
18-21 Years
22-40 Years
41-60 Years
61-80 Years
81-99 Years
9-10 Years
My
Grandfather, the Mapmaker
by Anthony Bonolo
Rosemont School
My grandpa, Richard Scheafer, told me about being a cartographer.
He was a mapmaker for Rand McNally from 1958 to 1968.
My grandpa was going to art school when he got this job. He
had been trained in an apprenticeship. To become a cartographer
you must learn to read topography, which means learning about
various elevations. You also need to learn about printing scales,
political boundaries, and about the planet Earth in general.
He said that the best thing about the job was that he was up-to-date
on all of the borders of the world. The map of Africa changed
every year at that time. The Belgium Congo became Zaire. Great
Britain and other countries would give freedom to their colonies.
The job changed a lot in the ten years that he was there. At
first one man learned about the entire job from start to finish,
but later many men would do the maps, each specializing in only
one task. The most challenging thing about the job was that
everything had to be done perfectly, with no mistakes. The most
rewarding part of the job was that the work that he did was
printed all over the world.
Top
Huraches
by Arthur Ortiz
Rosemont School
My grandfather, Ramiro Ortiz, told me about his career as a
leather crafter. This skill had been passed along to him by his
father. He has retired from doing it full-time, but he still
gets orders from old customers from as far away as California,
Colorado, and Mexico.
He produced different leather products such as belts, handbags,
and sandals. He also made saddles called huaraches, which are
very popular in Mexico. He also repaired all types of leather
products. To be a good leather crafter, you need to like the
work, to have a lot of patience, and to have been taught
leather crafting
by a good teacher. The most challenging part of the job was
learning all the new styles.
The best thing about his work was making beautiful products
for his customers. He also like being close to home so that
he could take care of his children. The job is very different
today. Now there is automated equipment that can make products
faster than he could make by hand. Computers now design and
develop products that could not be made by hand.
Top
It's
Just a Joke
by Raquel Stephens
Rosemont School
My grandma, Carol Camp, was a court clerk for 18 years. She
worked in the Schaumburg Court. It used to be a barn. My grandma's
main job was to keep accurate papers of the judge's orders.
Her job was also to call the names of people to step up before
the judge. She had just called someone's name when they heard
noises that they thought were gun shots. The judge pushed his
chair back and started crawling into his chambers. The Schaumburg
Police were all sitting in the jury box with shocked looks on
their faces. When my grandma gets nervous, she starts laughing
so she stood there laughing out loud. The actual noise they
heard was young boys setting off fireworks in the hallway. Everyone
thought the noise was a joke because my grandma was laughing.
Another incident that happened on a very busy day in court when
my grandma had to swear people in to tell the truth. All of
a sudden, she went blank and said, "Cross your heart hope to
die. Stick a needle in your eye?" She said that instead of saying,
"Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
Top
From
a Small Business to a Multimillion Dollar Business
by Kellie Fazio
Rosemont School
Mary Hutmacher worked from 1953 to 1998. For 15 years she was
a housewife. She became a secretary for Land's End. In 1966
her salary was $2.00 an hour. My grandmother always wanted to
be a secretary. When she was a little girl, she used to pretend
she was a real secretary. She went to secretarial and business
law school at DePaul University after she finished high school.
My grandmother began her job when her youngest daughter Jill
entered first grade. She has worked for Land's End for 32 years
in their office, and since January 1999 she is semi retired
and is working in her home.
The reason she liked her job so much is because she did a variety
of things. When she first began, they had typewriters, not computers.
She would help put together the catalogs, take phone orders,
type letters, and answer complaints from customers. Her job
was very challenging. My grandma has helped the company grow
from a small business into a multimillion dollar company.
One of the most rewarding things was helping the girls who had
only worked on farms. They learned how to answer the phones
and take orders.
Top
Putting
His Life at Risk
by Jackie Sitkowski
Rosemont School
I interviewed my grandpa, Joe Perritano. At nineteen, my grandpa
was drafted into the service for World War II. My grandpa spent
nine weeks in navy boot camp at Great Lakes. Then he took a nine
day leave to go home.
When my grandpa returned, they sent him to Seattle, Washington.
He was assigned to a ship called a minesweeper. The crew took
turns going to mines in rafts. They found the mines and detonated
them. That means they took them apart so that the mines wouldn't
explode. Also, on the boat, he learned to lead and shoot five-inch
guns.
After two months they transferred my grandpa to San Pedro, California.
He was then assigned to a crash and rescue boat which would
be stationed at the Aleutian Islands. My grandpa was on a boat
of the Naval Air Force. He was a lookout person who looked for
a crash. When he saw an oil slick he would go out on an inflated
rescue raft and pull the wounded person onto the raft. My grandpa
said that putting his life at risk to save other lives was very
challenging and rewarding.
Top
11-13 Years
My
Role Model
by Christopher Helm
Chicago, Illinois
My dream career goal is to become a wide-receiver for the Minnesota
Vikings. I dream of the fame and fortune that it would bring
to me and my family. I know it takes a lot of hard work, practice,
patience, and even college, but I am ready to make the sacrifices.
Dr. Leon Hendricks, my grandfather, is 57 years old, attended
Lawson Elementary and Marshall High Schools. He was educated
at 15 different colleges, like Harvard, Howard, Loyola and plenty
of foreign colleges. This is why I admire him. He likes to play
basketball, baseball and table tennis, which makes him fun to
be around. He has a wife, two children and two grandchildren.
After college, he worked in many schools, trying to be a role
model for youngsters. He is a Black Star Mentor volunteer, and
works for the Chicago Public Schools. He is my role model because
of his achievements-- getting his Ed.D, being a great speaker,
and giving good family support. He is an all around man, and
that's what I want to be.
Although my grandfather is not a football player, he is my role
model and an inspiration for setting a high goal and sticking
to it. He has taught me that if he could do it, then so can
I.
Top
Grandma's
Adventures
by Anna Garcia
Reilly School, Chicago
My grandma was born in the Philippines in the year 1920. She
married my grandfather when she was 16. My grandma had eight
children, three boys and five girls. My mother is the youngest.
When my grandma was in the Philippines, she had many adventures.
She lived when the Japanese occupied the Philippines and, at
the time, she had a business where she would buy candies, canned
foods and live crabs and sell them for profit. At one point
in her life, she sold fish at the market and also had a fast
food restaurant.
When my grandma came to America she didn't have a job like she
had in the Philippines, but had the even more important task
of caring for her grandchildren.
Top
Enjoying
Life to the Fullest
Aaron Saxe
Mt. Vernon High School, Mt. Vernon
My grandmother is the type of woman that you would swear was
pulled from the age of Vaudeville and the Charleston. She was
a pioneer woman demanding education, job equality, and a champion
for education.
"I was born very early in the morning," she said slowly, "at
my grandmother's home in Albion, Illinois." She was born Carolyn
Veree McKinney on August 15, 1917 making her 78 years old this
year. She was a very intelligent child learning to walk and
talk at a very early age. Her entire life was dedicated to education.
She taught for more than 36 years receiving the Teacher of the
Year Award more than three times.
Today my grandmother, Carolyn, lives in a home on the outskirts
of Albion with her husband of fifty-three years. She continues
to be happy, energetic, and truly enjoys life to the fullest.
Top
The
Baseball Player
by Brett Brown
Oakford
My grandpa was a great baseball player. He could hit 450 foot
homers and throw a 90 mph fastball. He even had offers from
minor league ball clubs. People said he could throw harder and
hit farther than anybody they knew. He always told about how
he could hit a ball over the roof of his high school; which
was about 475 feet away.
When my grandpa was a senior in high school he went to a try-out
for a minor league ball club. Hundreds tried out that day, but
only six were allowed to come back the next day and he was one
of them. But when they found out he was still in high school,
they told him to come back the next year. He never went back.
He got married and had my mother. Sometimes I think if my grandpa
would have tried out that next year he might have been a major
league baseball player.
Top
14-17 Years
My
Future Job
by Maram Hoddodin
Mather High School
In the past I always wanted to be many different things, an
ice skater, an astronaut, and a sailor. But as time went by
I changed my mind. Now I want to be a teacher for little kids.
The first reason I choose to be a teacher is because I love
little kids. I really like dealing with kids ages five through
eleven. When they come up to me and tell me their secrets, some
stories that had happened to them, or just the little things
they get over excited about. Some of the things they get excited
about is when they learn how to tie their shoe lace for the
first time( that is a very special thing to them), or even helping
their mom make dinner.
The second reason is people say I think the same way that children
do. They say that I talk and act like a little girl. That is
true, I take things too seriously, but I always make jokes the
way little kids would.
The third and last reason is little kids like being around me
too. I like teaching them new things even before they start
kindergarten. I teach them how to count with little pieces of
cereal or candy, I teach them parts of their body and face,
I also teach them how to write their name. Sometimes they come
up to me and ask me to teach them how to read. I have a lot
of fun when I am around little kids.
Those are the most important reasons why I choose to be a teacher.
Even though I have to study in college for many years, it's
worth all the time.
Top
Working
in a Company
by Murin Esho
Mather High School
My mother, Maha S. Dadisho works at Revell Monogram company.
She makes toys and she claims that it is hard work, "Sometimes
my back hurts and I just want to stop working," she said, but
she never stops. She stands on her two feet and works all night.
She works and supports our family. Every day she thanks God
that she has a job and a family that loves her.
"Go to school and work hard now so that in the future everything
will be the way you want it" she said giving me advice.
There are lots of disadvantages in working for a company. She
said that she is paid a small amount of money. "Working
in a company is hard and boring" she said, "I work from
12:00 at night to 8:30 in the morning so I get really tired."
My mom said that she is proud of where she works and she will
continue to work there. I think that mother works all night
and sleeps only four hours a day because she wants to achieve
our dream. "Your father and I have been saving money and
soon we'll have our own house." My mother is simply
lovely and admirable. She is the hardest working person I have
ever seen in my life.
Top
18-21 Years
From
a Laundromat to a Bank
by Gader Asli Khan
Mather High School
I am going to write an interview about my uncle. In his story,
he told me that he had three different careers in his life.
I asked him what went well and what didn't in his first job.
He told me that, he was all alone; he had no one to support
him in America. Furthermore; his family was in Pakistan (Karachi)
and he did not say anything about how hard it was to live in
this country. Moreover; he actually told his family that he
was happy in this country. For instance, at his first job, he
worked in a laundromat and he had no experience so nothing went
well. The season was winter and he was late a lot of the time
because of the snow, it was very cold and he was not prepared.
My next question was, "Were there people in your work life who
made a difference for you?" He told me about one person named
Mary who helped him. She understood his feelings and major problems
and how he was he dealing with it.
My next question was, "Did you have all the skills you needed
when you started your job." He said, "No." He said he was a
hard working man willing to learn. He also mentioned his experience
in other jobs, that he was efficient at his work and friendly
to his colleagues. He said he wanted to get ahead in his life.
In the end he said, it was a lot of physical work, it was really
hard for him to keep up with his school work and job. Now he
has experience with three different careers; he became a lawyer,
he worked in bank, and he had business in a garments store.
Top
My
Grandfather
Crystal Clarkson
Quincy
Glen Chandler was born in rural Quincy. Though separated by
over 60 years, his life is similar to that of today's rural
children.
Living in a wooded area, he was comfortable with many animals,
including skunks. His chores included chopping wood and caring
for the animals. Most of his time was spent in a pair of overalls.
Even with all his chores, his mother still found time for him
to go to school. My grandfather excelled in History, but not
math. Though he had trouble with numbers in school, he always
managed to have money to buy candy. Whether it was change from
trading farm products for groceries or money slipped from his
Sunday school donation, he never missed a chance for sweets.
The summer was spent fishing and playing marbles. Weekends were
spent at the movie theater and winter was spent on a sled pulled
by his father's Model-T.
Top
Interviewing
Jennifer Buss
Quincy High School-Health Occupation
Quincy
When I was in fourth grade our class went to the Veterans Home
to visit with our buddies. It was a program that you just go
and play games with the residents.
My buddy's name was Ed. He was neat, he always had a unique
story to tell. The stories usually were about the war. Some
of them I didn't understand, but he told them anyway. I think
I listened because I knew he liked me listening. I also liked
to hear him talk. He had a southern accent and he always used
sound effects with his stories.
One of the stories was about how his wife died when he was away
at the war. He was so sad and he didn't get to say good-by.
He was crying, but he didn't tell me how she died. I wasn't
going to ask. I had the feeling his wife died during labor.
He kept saying my son died too.
All in all I loved talking to Ed. I hoped I could continue to
talk to him, but I moved away. I wonder how he is.
Top
Careers
and Travel
T.J. Zimmerman
Porta High School, Petersburg
Life is filled with many questions. For instance is there a
heaven or hell? My dad knows there is a hell and discovered
it on the way to a business meeting in Denver. It all started
the night before the trip--the weather report called for heavy
snows. While he was waiting for his plane, the man next to him
had a heart attack and died. Finally he got on the plane 4 hours
late then arrived in Denver but the landing gear wouldn't go
down. They circled the airport and he saw emergency vehicles
waiting for them to crash. Finally they manually lowered the
landing gear and landed safely. When he finally arrived in the
hotel he walked in the meeting just as everyone was pushing
in their chairs to leave. Other than that he said the trip was
great!
Top
22-40 Years
She
Couldn't Imagine Being Anything Else
by Jan Jones Stover
Greenville, Illinois
Ask Mary Radcliffe of Greenville, Illinois, why she chose to
become an artist and her answer is simple, "I couldn't
imagine being anything else." Creative since her preschool
years, Mary has won everything from coloring contests to art
shows, selling her first piece of art work by the time she was
13.
Mary recognizes that an artist's life is not necessarily
an easy one, pointing out the ongoing struggle of working a
day job to pay the bills and still finding the time for her
creative endeavors. Currently those endeavors include designing
an small line of greeting cards which depicts today's
cafe scene, aptly dubbed, "Houseblend," and illustrating
her first picture book for children entitled "Baby Hands"
which Mary has recently sent to a publisher in hopes of acceptance.
With such desire, purpose and talent, this up and coming young
artist will no doubt see her art become her "day job"
and her dreams come true.
Top
The
Teacher
by Lynette Hendricks-Heim
Chicago
My mentor was a teacher and also my friend,
She is my mother on whom I'll always depend.
She taught children and adults from all walks of life,
In Catholic Schools, Public Schools, and sometimes suburban
wives.
Social Studies, English, Typing and Math,
My mom could teach anything to get them on the right path.
Her students are all grown now, successful jobs in hand,
Mom was an excellent teacher, it's what God had planned.
Teacher of the Year she would never become,
Everyone knew she deserved it, her skills made her number one.
She decided to retire after 30 plus years,
She'd helped thousands of children and was true inspiration
for her peers.
She now runs a mentor program, Black Star is its name,
Showing the children of Chicago that education is no game.
Although I'm not a teacher, a police officer I chose to be,
Patience, commitment, and self-respect - I have my mentor in
me.
Dedicated to Francetta Hendricks (Mom)
Top
Finding
Humor in Work
by Jonathan Sweetin, Graduate Student
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
When I was little we all had chores to do. Since there were
six of us luckily most of the jobs got distributed to my siblings.
My job was to take out the trash.
I worked at my grandmother's restaurant for many years and that
gave me the experience I needed for my first job. My first job
was working at a restaurant chain as a bus boy. I was always
able to find humor is whatever I do. Once I was taking out the
garbage (seems like I have been doing that since I was a young)
to the dumpster. I was late and it was dark. As I lifted the
lid of the dumpster a cat jump out and scared me to death. I
laughed to myself when back inside the restaurant. When I returned
inside I was asked if I heard a scream coming from the back
of the restaurant. They said it sounded like a girl screaming
and asked me if I knew anything about it. I looked them in the
eyes and said "Nope, didn't hear a thing."
The person who has made a difference in my life is my father.
Although he died when I was ten years old, the lessons he taught
me about life, being a man, caring for people and setting goals
for myself, have stayed with me. My grandmother is also easy
to talk to. She tells stories about what is was like when she
was my age. I have asked her about the jobs she has had and
she said that they are not much different than jobs today.
Top
Perseverance
Counts
by Eric Hinkle
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
One of the lessons I learned was about perseverance and that
I would have set backs. For example, when writing a paper for
my English class, I would have to keep writing drafts until
it was acceptable to the teacher. I would have to work harder
to overcome the setbacks. I have also learned that the most
important person who can make a difference in my life and the
one I can count on is ME.
Top
41-60 Years
My
Career Story
by Gretchen L. McDowell
Chicago
I have two brothers 4 and 6 years older than me (and one brother
12 years younger). When the three of us were at home, one of
our major responsibilities was to do the dinner dishes each
night. On Sunday we ate a "linen tablecloth" dinner at one o'clock
right after Sunday School and church. One night after the three
of us had spent the end of the dinner hour in our usual argument
about whose turn it was to do the dishes, and who had to wash
and who had to wipe, Dad said, "Stop this infernal bickering!
Get me a piece of paper." Well Dad drew a chart that scheduled
our dish duties, and taped it to the inside of the broom closet
door, and we followed that chart for years. He arranged it so
on my junior choir night, l didn't have to do dishes at
all, and my brothers' nights off also coincided with activities
of theirs. We had every third Sunday off, and always hoped those
were the Sundays when Mom and Dad had company, when there were
a lot of dishes!
Four children in eight years were my career, until the youngest
was in grammar school, and the mother of a friend of my daughter
invited me to become a member of the school PTA board. This
was the beginning of my career as a "Professional Volunteer."
Being an advocate for children and schools has been my career
ever since. It's just that I have never had a paycheck in dollars.
My salary is instead the gift of always doing something I have
wanted to do, in a manner that I wanted to do it.
I just kept doing one "job" after the other, PTA president at
a grammar school, then the high school my children attended,
and then the Illinois PTA. In between, I became the unpaid lobbyist
for the Chicago Region PTA and then the Illinois PTA, learning
what to do and how to do it by watching those who did the work
before me, and also with the advice of my mentor, and now for
many years good friend, Arlene Zielke.
Lobbying for improved laws to protect and aid the children of
Illinois was (and still is for me) the most enjoyable job in
the world. Successes are hard to come by, but when they happen,
one can only imagine the children that are helped.
Life in many ways now seems more difficult than when my husband
and I decided that we wanted children, and he would earn the
money and I would stay home with the kids. That choice is no
longer as possible for young couples. I could get up every morning
and choose how to spend my day, I never had to run on the treadmill
of rising, getting kids off to daycare, working, coming home
to housework, meal preparation, homework, and bed, that sometimes
seems the fate of working moms. But some of this routine is
self-inflicted by expectations of the things that we "need"
in order to live. We didn't have a clothes dryer until our fourth
child was born, a dishwasher until I broke my leg when the youngest
was four, or a second (used) car until that "baby" was in school.
Perhaps life's greatest challenges are to decide what is most
important in our lives and then make the choices that allow
us to strive for those most important things, recognizing that
every choice has its own costs and rewards. Only you can decide
if you are a success--what others think of you is beyond your
control!
Top
Life's
Careers
by Caralee Caplan
Chicago
Ten years ago, my husband died. Suddenly, after years of being
a volunteer, I became a business woman. A new career, unasked
for, but thrust upon me to earn a living for myself and my teenage
sons. Today I continue running the family business which now
includes my youngest son.
My preparation for running the family business came from my
work as a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools and as a stay-at-home
mom. I devoted all of my time and energy to raising my sons
until they entered school.
When school began, I joined the Parents Teacher Associations
(PTA). I am still actively involved after twenty two years.
My involvement began by working for my own children and grew
to working for all my children. My roles with this organization
gave me knowledge and leadership skills to accomplish anything.
I started as a local unit president; years later I became a
state president; and now I am finishing six years of service
on the national board.
The circle of life moves around. Now I delight in teaching my
grandchildren the wonders of the world. I have had misfortunes
and opportunities, but all have contributed to my growth as
a person. I consider myself fortunate to have experienced so
many different career paths and await those the future has still
to bring me.
Top
A
Seeing-Eye What?
by Jacquelyn Corter
Crainville Grade School
I had the pleasure to teach across the hall from Gloria Bishop
for about 20 years. I taught second grade while she taught first
grade. She had that special quality of an easy-going spirit
and a wonderful sense of humor. She was probably in her early
fifties when this story took place.
She was going over a Weekly Reader lesson late one afternoon
on a warm day at school. After asking the students what seemed
to be a simple question she gradually became more and more frustrated
when the students had no answer. She called on one student and
then another but everyone said "No, they had never seen one."
She continued to ask four or five other students the same question
and finally one student slowly and cautiously raised his hand
and said "Mrs. Bishop, I have seen a seeing-eye dog but never
a seeing-eye horse." Realizing her mistake, Mrs. Bishop
laughed with the class and said "Did I say seeing-eye horse?"
The class said "Yes!" and then they all laughed together.
She shared this wonderful story with me after school was out
and we laughed until we cried. First grade students loved Mrs.
Bishop and so did everyone else in our school. She always added
an uplifting spirit everywhere she went. Mrs. Bishop retired
about 7 years ago. She touched a lot of lives in her 30 years
as a grade school teacher. I hope to leave the same kind of
legacy when I retire.
Top
61-80 Years
Bikes
Repaired-Tires Fixed
by Leo G. (Jerry) Piper
Barrington
Bikes Repaired-Tires Fixed--that was the hand-lettering of the
two-by-three-foot sign on our garage door. It was all I needed,
and I was in business in 1944. The war was on. I was 13. Dad
didn't have any bikes to sell at the hardware store. No tires
to buy. We kids had to get by with what we had. I didn't realize
supply and demand. But I did know my brother and sister were
away from home in the Navy and working in Chicago and their
bikes were hanging in the garage. I had my own bike and had
learned to take apart and put back together the New Departure
brakes all bikes had in those days.
I also knew other kids had come into the bike age but their
parents couldn't find a bike to buy if they wanted to. Somewhere
I put two-and-two together and came up with the bike shop idea.
It worked. The first bike brought a neat profit. I suppose the
owners of the war production plants hardly looked back at the
profits they were making because of the demand, but it bothered
me then, and, as you can see, it still bothers me today - the
profit I made on that sale.
Top
Ninety
Years --- and Counting
by Jean Ahlberg
Springfield
The women in my family have been engaged in teaching for four
generations, with a total of 90 years. This feat is quite remarkable
when one realizes that all the women were married and had children
at a time when female teachers were not usually allowed to continue
their professions, once they were married.
My grandmother Maria taught for forty years and raised four
children while living in Italy in the early 1900's. Maria was
allowed to continue teaching probably because her father was
an important member of the community. With each baby, she was
granted a paid leave of 180 days before returning to work. My
mother, the oldest daughter, was in her fourth year of teaching
when she died giving birth to me.
I taught almost as long as my grandmother and had two children.
From the age of three when I started "playing school," that's
all I have ever wanted to do. My daughter Lisa is now in her
8th year as a teacher and she, too, used to have a "pretend"
classroom when she was a little girl. I know that she'll continue
to enjoy and succeed in her career, because... teaching is in
our blood!
Top
From
Farmer to Army to Business Education
by Ed Ludwig
LaGrange Park
There were five children in my family and we lived in a rural
area. My father was a truck garden farmer. There were always
jobs for the family helping with the many garden duties, preparing
the land to plant, then harvest and delivering the produce to
sell.
I also had the experience sharing the concerns my parents had
during the depression in the 1930s. Our loving parents made
it possible for us to be in school every day and provided us
with a very modest good home. They also supported each of us
to earn college degrees.
Our family did not have long vacations, but enjoyed activities
through our Church, and participating in school events. It is
important for young people to set goals and have a plan for
reaching the goal in either good or difficult times.
After earning an undergraduate degree from the University of
Illinois, I applied for a business education teaching position
in my home high school. The experience I had in the Army for
three years, serving in the U. S. and the Far East and previous
work in an office, I felt that I would be qualified to teach
high school business courses. One of my high school business
teachers was in contact with me while in the Army and College
encouraging me to have a goal preparing for a teaching career.
That teacher was my immediate supervisor in the school where
I had my first job. The teaching profession was an opportunity
to work with students, faculty and parents.
Top
Seven
Career Stories
by Joe Rush
Barrington
#1 Because it was the end of the depression period in our country
(1939-40), I worked all one summer keeping track of milk cows
(on horseback) alongside the country roads of northern Illinois.
I was working for a local dairy farmer and in exchange for the
work we got fresh milk and our garden plot plowed. For me the
pay was a pony for the entire summer.
#2 When I was a senior in high school (18 years old) I came
down with polio and for sometime afterwards I was very weak.
Our local high school basketball coach was a well trained physical
therapist, who strongly believed in exercise and training. He
helped me redevelop my body muscles. Partly because of this
experience I have exercised and worked out with free weights
for many years and have developed a habit of staying in shape.
#3 I have had four major careers in my life, professional musician,
teacher, newspaper editor, and professional portrait photographer.
I grew up with a father who was a professional musician and
teacher. I studied music education and while in college played
professionally, and after college I taught music for 14 years
in public schools. I left teaching and my wife and I bought
a weekly newspaper and I became an editor and news photographer.
My last and present profession is owning a portrait studio,
Langdon's of Barrington.
#4 My first job after I received my degree in music education
was to teach music at all levels in a very small school district
in northeast Indiana. My duties included both vocal and instrumental
music K-12, and as was the case in many small schools I also
coached high school baseball, supervised the production of the
high school year book, and was the class sponsor for the senior
class.
The very first class I had was 12 kindergartners. They certainly
appeared to enjoy the songs I was singing, but for some reason
would not join in the singing. I thought I was a failure for
sure, but as I found out after the class they only understood
and spoke a form of German/Dutch. They were Amish and it was
my job to also teach them to speak English.
#5 When you finish what ever level of education you attain and
began work, you have most likely had the training needed, but
you do not have the skills, that only comes with experience.
#6 There are two people who have helped me succeed. My father
who taught me how to work and my wife of 46 years who taught
me how to persevere.
#7 If you do not enjoy what you are doing (as a career), then
find another career.
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81-99 Years
Keeping
The Dream Alive
by Hazel C. Jones
Vandalia, Illinois
It was during the great depression that my husband, Don, and
I decided to quit our steady jobs and pursue our dream of becoming
professional photographers. After training, we opened our own
studio in 1938. With hard work and the opening of the oil fields
in Fayette County, business began to flourish.
When World War II was declared, Don was called to serve and
it became my responsibility--and desire--to keep our dream alive.
This meant I was to be not only the oil colorists, but also
the portrait photographer and darkroom specialist.
Those two and a half years were filled with the hectic activity
of photographing service men, pin-ups of soldier's wives or
girlfriends, new babies, weddings and family groups.
I don't know how many other women were professional photographers
back then, I just know it was good to be able to keep our dream
alive. When Don returned from the war, we continued sharing
that dream for many years to come, watching our business grow
and expand . . . together.
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Mr.
First Job Experience
by May L. Pinkerman
Barrington
I was born in 1906 and spent my first 7 years in England. Being
an only child, the little chores were my responsibility.
In 1913 we moved to Winnipeg, Canada where I found a great difference
in schooling, attitudes and weather. After a Business College
course my first job was with a Tent & Awning company. I felt
well equipped for it and the salary was $50.00 a month for 5
1/2 days per week with no perks. The year was about 1922. About
this time my Mother passed away.
In 1924 I moved to Chicago to join my father and his new family.
Upon arrival in Chicago I began to scan the want ads and, not
knowing anything about the city or my way around, my father
took me to the Butler Brother Bldg. at Randolph and Canal Streets
and waited for me. We rode the "elevated" for 10
cents. Fortunately, I was hired as a stenographer. I was in
the private offices of Edward B. Butler who was a well known
philanthropist, artist and President of the Glenwood Manual
Training School for Boys in Glenwood Ill. Part of my job included
helping to raise funds for the support of Glenwood by a correspondence
system.
At that time Glenwood housed boys in a cottage system with house
mothers and was a branch of the R.O.T.C. Mr. Butler had donated
a room to the Art Institute to house George Inness landscape
paintings and worked with Daniel H. Burnham in fighting to keep
the lakefront of Chicago forever open as we enjoy it today.
All of these things made my job very interesting.
One experience I can now laugh about happened during my first
year in the above job when I took a day off without permission
or notice. Upon my return the next day the man who had hired
me called me on the carpet asking for an explanation. I said
it had been my birthday to which he replied, ‘Now, what
do you think would happen to this business if everyone took
the day off for a birthday?" I replied "But it was
my 18th Birthday!" He was 36 at that time and enjoying
my predicament and with a twinkle in his eye said, "Just
don't do that again!" My preparation for these jobs
included Pitman shorthand, typing, English, etc.
I moved to Barrington in 1940 and from 1947 to 1954 we ran a
food specialty shop at 201 S. Cook St. and from 1953-1972 I
was with the Village of Barrington spending 4 terms as elected
Village Clerk. Both that job and the Butler one were very interesting
and educational.
I would advise young people to obtain all the education possible,
particularly in their chosen fields and to keep abreast of all
changes therein, to include several other languages, be adventurous
within reason.
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