by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications
When Margaret Carter retired, she wanted to try something new. So when a newspaper ad for scuba diving caught her eye, she signed up for lessons.
She was the only woman in a class of men, the only retiree in a class of young adventure-seekers. Her classmates had doubts about whether she would be up to the challenge.
"'She'll never make it. She's a woman, and she's too old.' That's what they thought about me," says Margaret. But she proved them wrong. She completed the lessons, earned her certification, and began exploring the underwater world she had discovered.
When Margaret learned that Chicago's John G. Shedd Aquarium uses volunteer divers for their Coral Reef program, she submitted an application. She knew she had met the minimum scuba requirements (30 hours of open-water diving) and the age requirements (she was at least 60 years older than the minimum age!), but because of the program's popularity, there was a long waiting list of volunteer divers. She completed the four-page application form, offered three references, and rehearsed for the scripted presentation audition that would be part of the application process.
Finally the day came when she was accepted into the program, and before long she got her opportunity to serve!
Margaret and her diving partner plunged into the Coral Reef (now known as the Caribbean Reef), the giant tank in the center of the Shedd Aquarium. They hand-fed the fish, surrounded by sharks, barracudas, and stingrays. "It was one of the great adventures of my life," says Margaret, awed by the experience. And she had the additional satisfaction of seeing some of her scuba diving classmates around the perimeter of the tank, watching her. "They didn't think I could finish the class, but I lived to see them watch me feed the sharks!"
Margaret has visited every aquarium in the United States and has discovered that all aquariums rely heavily on volunteers. "I've always believed in volunteerism," she says. "It gives you many opportunities you wouldn't have otherwise." She has given scuba diving lectures at Northwestern University and at nursing homes throughout the Chicago area, sharing with others her love of the water.
She moved to Holland Home, our retirement community in South Holland, Illinois, in 2003. She doesn't do much diving anymore, but she still looks for opportunities to share her underwater experiences with anyone interested in learning. In fact, in the back of her mind, she hopes to organize a trip to the Shedd Aquarium, so her Holland Home friends can experience the aquatic beauty she discovered after she was "too old" to learn diving!
What about you? Do you have a dream that you're putting off until retirement? Sometimes putting it in writing can transform it from "dream" to "goal." Why not take that step today, and publicly share your dream by posting a comment below?
