Helen Catherine Richardson aka "Suzie"

“Get An Education”

(Excerpt from an interview with Brenda Dulaney, Retired Nurse, Proud Mom and Grandma)
Michigan, USA

My mother instilled the importance of education and it started early on while I was in high school.  It was a time in life where you could go from high school to a job. She always reminded me the importance of education and that rang in my head always.

And, of course, with that came a reminder to do well in school.  Getting an education was just instilled in all of us 3 children.  As a result, I did well in school and graduated from high school as a member of the Honors Society. I went on to nursing school and graduated in 1972, and got my masters degree 10 yrs later.  My sister also has a master's degree, my brother has a bachelor's degree.  She made sure that all of us got that education and had the ability to build a career for ourselves.  

My mother did not have a degree and felt disadvantaged because of it. Her generation came off the depression where there was less money, less opportunities and she definitely wanted better and more for us and she saw the access to all that was through an education.  Interestingly enough, I must have instilled the same to my children as they also have a bachelor's degree and/or advanced degrees.  

Learning was also a big thing for my mother.  One of my favorite early childhood memories was going to the library with her.  Mom made sure that we would go to the library if not every week, every couple of weeks so we always have books to read. To this day, reading is still one of the things I love to do. We were taught never to stop learning. There's never a day that goes by that I don't learn something new. 

And now I am seeing this passed on even to my grandchildren.  So from my mom to me, my children and now my grandchildren I can see that learning, reading, and the importance of education are there. And I love seeing these values continue to be passed on to the different generations in such a positive way.

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Thanks Mom,

for teaching me FAITH, LOVE, BEAUTY, FUN and HEART.

• Brenda Dulaney
  Retired Nurse after 50 yrs of service

  Mother of 4 amazing children

  Blessed Grandmother