How long have you been enrolled in the SMC Emeritus program?
24 years, started year of 2000.
What was your occupation prior to retirement?
Research associate in Tissue Typing Lab at UCLA for kidney and bone marrow transplant.
What was your highest level of education?
Earned College Bachelor Degree or higher.
What are the top three reasons why you value the SMC Emeritus Program?
- Emeritus College offers us many different type of classes : Art, Computer, Music, Health, Political, History, Knitting and Sewing, etc., etc., etc.
- Emeritus College hire quality instructors and make sure they are doing their jobs.
- Through the years I make lots of friends there.
Pearls of Wisdom: What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
Never stop learning, there is always something new.
How would your advice to your 50-year-old self differ?
Count your blessings and be happy.
What are some of your biggest accomplishments in life?
-
I have been working as a research associate for 26 years at UCLA Tissue Typing Lab with Dr Paul Terasaki who developed the microcytotoxicity test which became the global standard in transplantation for matching donors and recipients.
-
My jobs involved with developing testing method, quality control of testing, problem solving if any
troubles occur in testing and assisting pros doctor to set up their work.
I am proud to be part of the team to prolong the life of kidney transplant and bone marrow transplant patients, minimize their graft rejections. -
My family is also as important as my career, I make sure my husband, son and grandson have quality
family time together. My son Chris and grandson Christian for past few years volunteered their holidays time selling Christmas trees for Boy Scout to raising fund for their annual activities. When I watched them carrying 8 feet tree from tree lot to the parking lot and unloading it to the car, it's a hard job, but they never complain to me. -
When the tree lot is closed few days before Christmas, then they found time to decorated our own Christmas tree at home, and we can enjoyed our holidays together.
-
Chris and Christian are caring and considerate persons. They made me a proud mother and grandmother!
The SMC Emeritus Program has helped me as a lifelong learner because in the words of Albert Einstein, "Once you stop learning, you start dying."
The best part about being an SMC Emeritus student is keep learning new things and keeping making new friends.