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by Irene Trowell-Harris (Author)
Raised in 1950s South Carolina, faced with the barriers of race, gender and economic status, it all started with $60 and a dream. Her church collected nickels, dimes and quarters for her initial $60 tuition for nursing school. That provided the bridge she needed to get from the cotton field to nursing school and on to an unexpected and unprecedented successful military and civilian career journey. The dream was hers. While picking cotton with her 10 brothers and sisters, when planes flew over, she'd tell them 'one day I will fly and work on an airplane'. They and others laughed-doubting that the daughter of a poor cotton farmer could ever overcome the obstacles she would face. But she did. Her dream was not left as "just a dream". Thirty-eight years in the Air Force/Air National Guard, retired a Major General and concurrent with that a successful career in healthcare, education and public service. Pretty darn good for a kid who while picking cotton, looked up at the sky and dreamed of flying. Though support from church and mentors helped her-facing enormous challenges in getting from where she was, to where she wanted to be-it was she who had the mettle to shape her own destiny and carve a path to success. Along the way, she became a chief nurse executive, educator, military officer, commander and White House political appointee. It is a simple story of faith and determination-and how if you have that, no goal is out of your reach. All who read it will come away touched by this remarkable woman.
