Lisa Galet B.S.W

I was pregnant with my first child in the 3rd year of Social Work. I remember not fitting into some of those silly chairs that hand the desk kind of wrap around you on the side, then go out in front...so I had to sit in regular chairs, and those were only available in the front row. I remember there was one man who had a really loud voice. Every time he talked, my tummy jumped. He found it distracting. I got into trouble and now that I think of it, that was pretty funny. But back then, I was very nervous. This was the Fall of 1986.  My friends in that class made a baby shower for me in October 1986. I'll see if I can find a photo from it. I was really surprised when our class in the basement turned into a baby shower. It still brings tears to my eyes and to this day, I still have the tiny "Western" t-shirt that I was given at that event --- my granddaughter wore it when she was small. I don't remember who was in my class but I'll never forget how my peers took care of me that day.  Anyways, I had the baby on October 22, 1986, and returned to classes about a week later. I remember hiring babysitters to care for the baby at home, and walk her to school in between my classes so that I could nurse her. I have photos of me with texts on my lap, and me asleep, lying down on the couch. I really don't know how I managed to do so well in school that year! But I must have studied really hard because there are principles of social work that have "stuck" with me and I really don't remember learning them. These principles have really infiltrated my professional life as a teacher --- which I became in 1997. The teacher I remember most was a lovely lady with the first name Rosemarie or Rosemary. She was the image of professionalism, to me, in a time when I didn't know too many working women. She also seemed to have her family life organized. She always looked elegant, and spoke so smartly. She dressed nicely. And her hair was always perfect. As if this wasn't enough, she sounded so intelligent to me. She inspired me to put myself together and work hard. I still work hard, Rosemary. And even if I don't always look so neat and tidy like you do, I'm proud of the professional, the mother, the grandmother, wife and woman, who I am.

Oh my, mind is flooding with memories. Good, like a class with John Orange (?) on feminisim --- I didn't know what he was talking about, lol!!! Bad, like when I needed to finish my degree with a 4th year Statistics course, and was living in Toronto, the dean only approved a Statistics of Business course --- so even though I had never done any business courses, I finished that course with one of the highest marks in the class. Then there's the icy pathway in front of the building that was fun to slide along while pushing my baby carriage. I was so young..... :-)