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Fate brings woman into the world of teaching
CADILLAC — Dawn Paulin started her professional life as a social worker and eventually became a supervisor for the Department of Social Services. Next she tackled office management, another career she loved. But it was fate that brought Paulin into the world of teaching when Nancy Foster, dean of Computer Information Systems, asked her to teach a couple of classes for Baker College. Two weeks into the job, Paulin was hooked. She loved teaching. She enrolled in an online MBA program to expand her qualifications. “I tell people it took me 30 years to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up,” she laughed. Since 2005, Paulin has courageously continued her teaching career while battling breast cancer, a battle she hopes is finally over. “I would say that most people didn’t know what I was going through,” she said. “But coming to work, it just seemed like a necessary part of who I am. Not doing that wasn’t an option. Plus, I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself.” The first time was in October of 2005. After that I was in remission and thought everything was fine. But last October, they found some suspicious spots that were diagnosed as pre-cancerous. They gave me several options. Given my family history and my personal history, both my doctor and I felt it was a good option. I pushed to have it done as soon as possible even though the doctors said we don’t need to do this right away. When the pathology came back, indeed, there were two cancers on the opposite side that hadn’t shown up on the mammograms. It was a shock to everybody. That was pretty devastating and upsetting. We started treatment the first week of spring term. There were times when I thought I can’t do this. But most of the students didn’t know and I didn’t tell them. I started wearing my wig and it looked a lot like my own hair, or a hat if it was too hot. But my faith got me through, and my friends. This will make me cry. I found out I had absolutely wonderful friends who took me to appointments, sat with me through chemotherapy and took me out for coffee or sent me cards. I leaned on my friends from church and my family. Yes. My blood work is all within normal and my treatments ended in June. I’m still a little tired but I feel like I can start getting back to the ‘new’ normal. I have a new appreciation for everything. And this fall I won’t be wearing a hat. news@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)
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