Jill J. MacArthur

My grandmother Ella, a nursing sister, was awarded a medal for courage under fire in the trenches of WWI. With a romantic ideal of carrying the torch, I entered my professional life as a nurse. Because of my higher education, I found myself farther and farther away from making a difference to patients at the bedside.

So I sequed to public relations, the management of communication.

Again, I wanted to help others. I attained a certificate in PR, with Distinction, from the University of Victoria and then worked as communication coordinator for both a regional health authority and a not-for-profit. But I found egos and politics got in the way of achieving the best for my clients.

So I took a break in retail/marketing for eight years. I was attracted by the positive "can-do" attitude of the the manager at the time. But a change of ownership meant that profit-margins were more important than customer service: not a happy situation for me or the customers.

About this time, I visited a friend who was teaching English in South Korea. I was enchanted by the physical beauty of the country, the philosophical foundation and the charm of the children. I thought: I can make a difference here!

After attaining my TESOL designation with a specialization in Business English, I taught ESL in South Korea for four years. Despite obvious challenges, I loved every moment. The Korean landscape is spell-binding and the traditional family-centred culture very special. I did not want to leave.

However, after the age of 60, due to immigration policies, I was not permitted to extend my work visa.

This was so disappointing. I believe older workers offer much: education, skills and aptitudes honed by multiple life experiences. Unfortunately, due to global economic and demographic factors, ageism is rearing its ugly head.

Undaunted, I am looking for a new challenge. The overriding principle is again, helping others in some capacity.