Back to School – Grad School, That Is

By K. Coats

I’m going back to grad school in the fall, and I’d like to state publicly that it is all my Great Aunt Gail’s fault. Years ago, when I decided to become a teacher, my aunt was an excellent resource: former teacher, former principal, and former assistant superintendent. What she said went. I thought once I completed my Masters of Education that I’d never have to sit at a student desk again. That was my first mistake. My second was calling that same great aunt on the way home from work one afternoon when I’d finished my audiobook and wasn’t in the mood for music. So I called her to say hello. The ride home from work is often where I catch up and make short calls – hands free, of course. We chatted about this and that – can’t remember exactly what about now – but near the end of the call, my Aunt Gail did what she’s always done. She was direct.

“Alright, girl, what is your five-year plan?”

Five-year plan?! I was proud I knew what my next unit would be. I was proud that I might know what to make for dinner that night. I was proud my essays were finished being graded. I was too proud to say, “I don’t know,” and disappoint her.

“Well,” I stammered. “I was thinking at some point of going back to grad school. Maybe I’ll get my specialist or my doctorate.”

Isn’t it funny how you know someone is nodding when speaking on the phone? I could feel her nodding as I spoke. She approved of this plan. She’d done the same thing in her own time. So, I was relieved that she agreed. But now I had to follow through.

I didn’t lie to my aunt. I really had considered it many times. But something always came up. Some reason. Finances. Buying a home. A car. Having kids. My side business. There was always something there to get in the way just enough to make the idea of more graduate studies unappetizing.

Then came Covid. But there was one rare thing that resulted from Covid that was a perk. Up until this time, online classes had a stigma. And online education courses could be overpriced and limited in their raising event, benefitting all three campuses of CHOA and the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder Centers.

Each year, the total raised has grown, as has participation by WSB advertisers and program sponsors. During the 36-hour radio telethon, a significant percentage of time has hours with double-donation and even triple-donation matches, from grateful patient families, solid corporate citizens, as well as public figures, elected officials, and celebrities auctioning dinners, event tickets and making personal appeals. As the 2022 Care-a-thon ended on July 29th, with a Power Hour match of $250,000, made possible by America’s Thrift Stores, the donations total set a record of $1,820,440.00. Total funds raised to date by the station’s efforts are closing on $30 million.

And as Scott Slade so well noticed all those years ago, this care is provided in an atmosphere of family, warmth, safety, and play. It is not unusual to see a few small bald-headed warriors racing down a hallway, with their IV poles in tow, or sick patients and their siblings together watching a movie or playing Nintendo, during a lengthy chemo infusion. And one of the most sacred spots on each of these wards is a bell hanging from the wall – and when that bell peels, someone has either completed their cycle of treatments, has their cancer in remission, or is leaving the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, heading home much healthier than when they arrived along with their family in that moment of crisis.

The Care-a-thon and CHOA have paved a lengthening road filled with miles of smiles, and tears of joy – as well as gratitude to so many of you, and those survival chances and odds improve each year. And for those children and families yet to receive that tough diagnosis or phone call, let’s keep it going. For all of us.

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com

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