Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1987)
Displaced Homemaker grads prove successful by Caree Hussey Feature Editor “At first I was scared,” ex pressed Barbara Nealeigh, “at first I wondered ‘gee, am I just wasting my time?’ I didn’t want anyone to know what was going on.” At the time she went through the Displaced Homemakers program, three years ago, Nealeigh’s husband had just lost his job and she herself was not working. Photo by Julio Church Gwen Field takes a moment off from selling Avon. by Caree Hussey Feature Editor “I felt lost!” exclaimed Displaced Homemakers graduate Gwen Field. Tragedy had struck twice for her. First, the company where she’d been working for 15 years had let her go; then her father had died and Field had to take on the responsibility of caring for her 87 year old mother. “I didn’t know how to handle that,” explained Field, ‘‘I didn’t know how to handle not having a job and having to stay home.” So she went to college. Although she enjoyed her classes, Field “didn’t feel it was my thing.” She then heard about the Displaced Homemakers program and made up her mind to try it. There she was given a test com parable to a GED test. The results showed that she should be in management. “I thought I’d like to work for myself, go into business for myself, but I didn’t have any confidence.” She had lost all her friends from work so she got aquainted with the 50 women in her class. “It wasn’t difficult because everybody was in the same boat, so we all just got along fine,” Field assured. “I didn *t know how to handle not having a job and having to stay home. ”__________________ Also going through the class with her was Field’s daughter, who had also worked at the same company and had been let go. “When we got through the pro gram I think we were talking more, and that’s self esteem,” stated Field. Her class has formed a support group which meets once a week. They discuss their problems, tell their personal stories and offer suggestions to each other based on past ex periences. “We still need each other, and that’s what’s impor tant,” explained Field, “it’s not over after the 11 weeks.” At 54 Field is about the average age of a woman going through the program. Most of the women are in their late for ties, early fifties. After attending the classes a few times, Nealeigh began to feel more comfortable. “I started get ting the advantage of the support that I needed and that’s what I was lacking. I was trying to do it myself.” Through the program Nealeigh “made a lot of contacts” and did some informational interviewing. “It made me feel better when I went into interviews because I was used to it by then. I was able to turn the interviews the other way around where I had more control. I tried different things each time I went to different in terviews and I got a lot of rejec tions. That was hard to handle,” admitted Nealeigh, “but I just kept thinking that they were say ing ‘no’ for a reason, the job wasn’t mine for a reason and it probably wasn’t what I thought it was.” Nealeigh put in her application at the University of Portland. “I was just putting in applications at the time to see what kind of rejec tion letter I’d get.” Two weeks later she received a call and went in for two interviews. They of fered her the job of systems Operator, working with com puters (her background had been in computers). She worked there for a year when a friend told her about an opening at Precision Castparts. There she went in as a derk and was soon promoted to plant auditor, a position she’s held for a year now. Nealeigh also teaches some computer dasses here at CCC. Photo by Julio Church Barbara Nealeigh prepares for a computer class. Her long term goals include raising her three children and liv ing “comfortably if not better!” She is currently working towards a Bachelor’s degree and someday hopes to get into sales and business management. Of the Displaced Homemakers program Nealeigh comments, “It helped me realize the advantage of waiting for the opportunity to come along that would best fit my needs. It gave me the chance to step back for a minute without the panic involved and really outline what 1 wanted out of life.” Fall play ‘truly classic’ by Michelle Walch Staff Writer “We are very fortunate to have a strong cast,” says director Jack Shields. “We will be ready to knock the socks off the au dience opening night.” CCC’s Fall Term Play is “Ex tremities” written by William Mastrosimone. “I discovered ‘Shivaree’ • (also by Mastrosimone, produced at CGC Fall Term ’86) after reading ‘Ex- temities’ because it made a major impact on me,” Shields added. Laurel Cates, who was a stu dent at CCC a few years ago, is cast as Marjorie. Cates starred in “Monique” and an original pro duction, “Not Any More.” Terry is played by M. Leigh Hagen, who is debuting on the CCC stage. Hagen helped with sound for “Shivaree” when she was a senior at Oregon City High School. Linda Kuntz portrays Patricia, who “has delighted our stage in many CCC productions,” according to Shields, and Dave Gloden as Raul. “The play is truly classic in scope, like ‘Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde,’ ‘Equs,’ or several of William Shakespeare’s plays. It shows our humanity at its most vulnerable and raw.” The play runs Nov. 19, 20, 21, Dec. 4, 5 at 8pm and Sunday the 6th at 2:30pm at the McLoughlin Theatre:, $4 adults, $2 students. Reservations - 657-8400 ext. 356. 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