Personal Profile
I grew up in a small farm town in central Pennsylvania where Amish still farm with horses. My dad was a farmer from the same town. My mom was a nurse from a larger town in Mississippi. I feel my parent's story is important because it effected how I view the world.
My mom and dad met when he was a volunteer who went south during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He worked in a hospital and also worked for my mom's father, my grandfather, who owned an equipment company. My grandfather was a great man who helped anyone. He did not see race or color, he saw people. He took in African Americans when their homes were damaged or not safe. My mom and dad live his example to this day.
After my parents were married, they moved back to central Pennsylvania where my dad took over the family farm. I grew up around the Amish. We were neighbors. The Amish are people in a religious group who live simply. Amish do not have electricity, cars or other modern conveniences because of their beliefs. They still use oil lamps and horses with carriages, known as buggies. I went for horse and buggy rides with my neighbors and worked alongside them in the fields. I never realized how other people saw them until I was in high school. I was working at a grocery store. I looked out the window and saw a horse attached to a buggy with children inside. Their father was holding the reigns as the horse reared up, almost tipping the buggy. The horse was spooked by an insensitive tourist who was trying to take a picture. The father was trying to hide his children because the Amish do not believe in having their picture taken. I promptly told my boss who went outside to confront the tourist. I remember thinking to myself, "these are people, not tourist attractions." That thought probably came from values my mother taught me.
My mom thinks it is important to learn history and know people. Therefore, she wanted me to know where she came from and who she knew. Instead of elaborate vacations to amusement parks, I spent my childhood traveling to parts of the south most of America has forgotten. On one trip, we visited a Choctaw reservation where my mom spent some time earlier in life. I enjoyed listening to the stories of the Choctaw tribe. I learned how their homes and churches were bombed during the 1960s. The effects of the turmoil are still seen. They are poor and some live in shacks. Many in the tribe are battling addictions, such as alcoholism. On another trip, we went to Louisiana and visited a Cajun preacher who happened to have a shrimp boat. I could not understand him because he had a think accent, but he had a smile I will always remember. Since then, I have read a book about him called Cajun Grace: Stories of George Reno, Fisherman Preacher, by Delphine Martin. I learned how he helped change so many lives by being open minded and loving. We stopped at small stores and talked to the locals, and it seemed like I never met a stranger in the south.
Diversity has always been a part of my life. I grew up getting to know people from a variety of places, religions and ethnic groups. I am happy because I use my experiences daily. I treat patients from all walks of life. Everyone has a story and I love to hear them. After all, they are what makes life interesting.
Reference:
Martin D. Cajun grace: Stories of George Reno, fisherman preacher. 1st ed. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2014:124.
My mom and dad met when he was a volunteer who went south during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He worked in a hospital and also worked for my mom's father, my grandfather, who owned an equipment company. My grandfather was a great man who helped anyone. He did not see race or color, he saw people. He took in African Americans when their homes were damaged or not safe. My mom and dad live his example to this day.
After my parents were married, they moved back to central Pennsylvania where my dad took over the family farm. I grew up around the Amish. We were neighbors. The Amish are people in a religious group who live simply. Amish do not have electricity, cars or other modern conveniences because of their beliefs. They still use oil lamps and horses with carriages, known as buggies. I went for horse and buggy rides with my neighbors and worked alongside them in the fields. I never realized how other people saw them until I was in high school. I was working at a grocery store. I looked out the window and saw a horse attached to a buggy with children inside. Their father was holding the reigns as the horse reared up, almost tipping the buggy. The horse was spooked by an insensitive tourist who was trying to take a picture. The father was trying to hide his children because the Amish do not believe in having their picture taken. I promptly told my boss who went outside to confront the tourist. I remember thinking to myself, "these are people, not tourist attractions." That thought probably came from values my mother taught me.
My mom thinks it is important to learn history and know people. Therefore, she wanted me to know where she came from and who she knew. Instead of elaborate vacations to amusement parks, I spent my childhood traveling to parts of the south most of America has forgotten. On one trip, we visited a Choctaw reservation where my mom spent some time earlier in life. I enjoyed listening to the stories of the Choctaw tribe. I learned how their homes and churches were bombed during the 1960s. The effects of the turmoil are still seen. They are poor and some live in shacks. Many in the tribe are battling addictions, such as alcoholism. On another trip, we went to Louisiana and visited a Cajun preacher who happened to have a shrimp boat. I could not understand him because he had a think accent, but he had a smile I will always remember. Since then, I have read a book about him called Cajun Grace: Stories of George Reno, Fisherman Preacher, by Delphine Martin. I learned how he helped change so many lives by being open minded and loving. We stopped at small stores and talked to the locals, and it seemed like I never met a stranger in the south.
Diversity has always been a part of my life. I grew up getting to know people from a variety of places, religions and ethnic groups. I am happy because I use my experiences daily. I treat patients from all walks of life. Everyone has a story and I love to hear them. After all, they are what makes life interesting.
Reference:
Martin D. Cajun grace: Stories of George Reno, fisherman preacher. 1st ed. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2014:124.
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