Nancy E. Turner
"These Is My Words"
Pinetop, AZ USA
"It’s important to never give up looking and never think that there’s only one way. Don’t be surprised if what you end up finding isn’t what you were looking for. "
Career Roadmap
Nancy E.'s work combines: Education, Writing, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Never give up looking for your passion. Don't be surprised if what you find isn't exactly what you are looking for. Be open to all possibilities.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Fine/Studio Arts, General
University of Arizona
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
In high school, she says she had dreamy notions about getting married, living in a house with a white picket fence, and living happily ever after.
2.
After her family struggled financially for several years, she decided to start job hunting, but found that her lack of a college degree limited her opportunities.
3.
Made a vow to herself that, if she was ever in a position to afford it, she would go to college—the day her husband got promoted, she enrolled in community college.
4.
Starting college at 40 years old was a terrifying experience for her; she constantly feared that she would fail or get kicked out, but says that she was determined not to quit.
5.
Had always had an interest in art and music, specifically the piano—had aspirations of pursuing music professionally.
6.
A serious medical diagnosis derailed her plans for pursuing music, but opened her up to a new passion: writing.
7.
Says she found a healing power in the process of writing; “The more I wrote, the healthier I felt.”
8.
Believes that having her ability to play the piano taken away from her was the best thing that could have happened—encourages people to surrender expectations and be open to opportunities.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You are immensely qualified for this job, but why don't you have a degree?
How I responded:
As soon as I was financially stable, I applied to community college and took classes when I could. I was terrified, but determined not to fail.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I suffered a life-threatening illness caused by poison that took years to recover from.
My family always struggled financially and due to my lack of a college degree (at the time) my job prospects were very limited. I also couldn't afford to go to school for many years.