Saturday, September 3, 2016
Graniteville • Vaucluse • Warrenville
Vol. 2, No. 9
What would you like to do when you grow up? by Anne Fulcher I am sure each and every one of you remember, as a child, talking with friends about dreams of what you would be when you grew up. I can still recall my first career dreams of being a mom of 12 kids but boy I’m sure glad that one was just a dream! Then as I got older, I knew music held a special place in my heart and for quite some time, I just KNEW I was going to be a high school band director. Most of you know that I’ve been involved in music, in some way shape or form, most of my life and I was actually a college music major for a few years before going into the health profession at the urging of my parents. They would always tell me to go into some type of health care, you can always find a job. And that is the key! After working one summer taking inventory at Clearwater Finishing Plant in Clearwater, I realized the hard work many of our parents performed by working in the many mills here in Aiken County. That first summer as a 16-year-old and working for 2 weeks in July with no air conditioning and long hours, I became aware that there is a difference between work and a career. I saw how dedicated those folks were to eke out a living for
their families and put food on the table. It also made me determined to get a good education so I would not have to work as hard as my dear mom and many of her friends did. I worked in ultrasound for over thirty years and it was good to me and I have met a many a friend from my career in health care but I wanted more. I wanted to make a difference so I did a one eighty, went back to college, finally got a Bachelor’s degree with a minor in music and realized that if it is something you are
passionate about it is not work, it is inner peace. I could not believe how good it felt to help people in a way that I know they really needed it. Mind you, I know that the work I did in ultrasound made a difference and I loved each and every one of my patients but it could be a very stressful job. I would come home on many occasions in tears because I had a patient with a horrible pregnancy outcome. Finding cervical cancer on a friend of mine 51 weeks prior to her untimely death at the very young age of 27 nearly was the demise of me as
well. I was never the same and that’s when it became just work. I have preached to my sons to find a passion and then it will not be work and now I can truly attest to that. I have worked for the last few years working with underserved populations. Those who may not have a voice for themselves and I have a full heart at the end of each day. I know God put me where I am now for a reason. I love helping those in need and my love soars for each and every one I help. Finally, I love the person I see in the mirror now and my inner peace shines through. What do you want to do when you grow up? Are you there yet or do you just work? Look in the mirror and tell me what you see. Do you go to bed each and every night at peace in knowing you’ve done your best to make a difference for your fellow man? Actually, I will always be a kid at heart and I love to laugh, sing and be happy and make others happy as well. Recently, Carla Cloud of ACTS commented that I was a breath of fresh air. I asked her if it was because I was so loud and she replied loud and lovely and I could not agree more. I laugh so much more these days and I make those around me laugh too. Find your passion that makes you laugh loudly and often each and every day and you will never work again.