Chemeketa Community College
Foundation
Charlette Lumby is sitting in an office-like setting.
Charlette:
Before I started Chemeketa I was working as an executive assistant at The Tower Company and was happy with my career. I knew at that point that I wanted to be a nurse but I was not willing to give up the money that I was making or the job. I was married and was starting a family. In the December 2000 my husband committed suicide and my daughter was born a week later and I witnessed the suicide and so I was put on disability for almost a year and went through a lot of counseling.
Husband's picture is displayed.
Charlette voice over:
I didn't see it coming with my husband; it was the last thing that I expected. I was a week way from my due date with my daughter.
Back to Charlette.
Charlette:
My husband had some problems with alcohol and found out later, after the autopsy, that he had been shooting up with methamphetamines. The night he died he was intoxicated via both alcohol and methamphetamines. He was very irrational. We were arguing because I didn't want him to leave. He was intoxicated and he was playing Russian Roulette with a gun and shot himself in front of me.
Several back and white photos of Charlette, some with her husband.
Charlette voice over:
After he died, I guess my initial thought was I that I wanted to be dead too; I didn't want to continue. I was on suicide watch by my family. It was the last thing that I expected; I didn't expect to become a widow at 24. Basically I had to dissect my whole life over it. When you have a tragedy like that it basically throws your whole life in reversal on having to relive your life and figure out who you are, where you are going, and what you are doing. Prior to Jordyn being born, I think I was just trying to continue, but not wanting to.
Photos of Charlette and Jordyn in hospital bed, and Jordyn in her crib, Jordyn a year and two years later.
Charlette voice over:
I think her birth, in its own way, was a miracle; it was the first time I decided I wanted to live after my husband died. After counseling, I evaluated my life, where I was, where I was going, what I wanted to do, that I had a daughter, that I had to move on, that I didn't have the choice to sit there and wallow in my grief.
Back to Charlette:
At that point I didn't have a job and I'd gone through as much as any person could have gone through, so why not have a leap of faith and follow my dreams and so that is what I did.
Video of Charlette with an instructor in the Nursing lab, practicing IV techniques, Charlette walking through some areas of campus with another student, chatting with other students in a hallway, and more Nursing lab video.
Charlette voice over:
Chemeketa for me was a chance to rebuild my life, to follow my dream of taking care of others and to provide security for my daughter. I think it was also a stepping ground for me to get back out in to the world and to talk to other people and meet other people. I had become very confined to myself. And so I think in reality it served and it continues to serve a lot of different purposes in my life. But the main thing is that it is providing a future for not only for myself but for my daughter.
Back to Charlette:
When I first learned I had received the Child Care Scholarship I was very excited. It was a huge difference for me. It is actually my largest bill on a monthly basis.
Various scenes of Jordyn and another child at day care.
Charlette voice over:
And I am not quite sure financially how I would pull it off without it. If I didn't have it, I am not quite sure where I would be; I am not sure if I would financially be able to afford to continue going to school. Even if I could pull it off, I am not sure how we would be able to live. It was one of the scholarships that I wanted the most, that I knew would make the biggest impact on me financially and it's helped a lot.
Back to Charlette:
I think on a deeper level, because it enabled me to go to Chemeketa and follow my dreams, she sees me doing that and that's huge for her; it's huge for her. She goes everywhere, "My mom's a nurse, she's going to be a nurse."
I never saw that when I was growing up. I am one of the very first college graduates out of my family and I think it will make a big impact for her when she grows up. I think it will give her a little bit more stamina to say, "Ok, I want to follow my dreams. I can do it. My mom did it; I can do this."
Brief video of students in one of the classrooms.
Voiceover and fade to Charlette, as she said:
I like to say "Thank you" to each and every one of you for making it possible for me to attend Chemeketa Community College. Attending Chemeketa is the roadway to making my dreams come true and has made a huge impact on, not only on my life but also my daughter's life. The Child Care Scholarship has been a blessing to our lives.
Video of Charlette reading a story book to Jordyn.
Charlette voice over:
It impacts our lives in so many ways. It's not only making my dreams come true, but it's showing my daughter that it is always possible, regardless of where you have been in life or how your life has turned its corners that it's still always possible to follow your dreams and do what you want to do.
Back to Charlette:
And it's been made possible in huge part by your contribution and I would just want to say, "Thank you. It means a lot to both of us."
The last picture is Charlette holding up daughter Jordyn, both smiling.
Updated March 20, 2007 by the College Advancement Department.