Did you consider any other careers how did you choose?

When I was growing up there was not a lot of choice when it came to careers for women. I went to a 'Grammar' school where the focus was academic and we continued with University Board exams up to a Grade 12 level, so the expectation was then that you would go on to some sort of post secondary eduction. Those who didn't usually went to work in a bank or a shop or went to secretarial college. The choices for us were basically a university education or teacher training or nursing.

I knew I did not want to teach and really did not like the idea of nursing as a career, but the option of a university degree which did not have a 'job' at the end of it did not appeal either. My strongest subjects at school were languages, so that wasn't a great help either. I don't really remember where the suggestion to do physiotherapy came from. I do remember being sent on a visit with a couple of other girls by our careers counsellor to a hospital and seeing the X ray Department and the Physio.

Department, and it evolved from there. I think the practical nature of the work appealed to me, we were still quite fresh from the big polio epidemics of the '50's and it appealed to me to be doing something to help those who had been affected. Sheila also worked with handicapped children in a residential school before she started nursing and I think that may have prompted my thoughts as well. Apart from that I really had no idea of what sort of career it might be, and very quickly found that I really enjoyed the study as well as the 'therapeutic' aspects of the course.

It was hard work academically, but I always enjoyed seeing the practical application of the studies.... it made sense. The scope of professional practice of physiotherapy evolved over the years as well, so it was always an ongoing challenge, all in all a good choice.