A Sister To Celebrate... Ms. Dorothy Ellis

A Sister To Celebrate

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As mentioned in the very first post, there are so many women that I admire and the “A Sister To Celebrate” series will highlight women that have a story, life lessons, and advice to share. I am so excited to have the opportunity to pass their wise words along and learn a little something myself! Here we go!

Ms. DOROTHY ELLIS 

I have known this wonderful lady for a number of years and have admired her from day one. She has an air about her that is so pleasing to be around and definitely walks with confidence, knowledge and power. Please continue reading to learn a little about this inspiring lady.

What is your age range?

I am 65+ (74) 

Where were you born, raised and where do you live now? 
I was born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and lived there until age 13.  I then moved to New York where I lived for 24 years. I have lived here in Canada for the past 37 years.

What is your educational background / training?
My first degrees were in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Political Science.  I then went on to do my Masters. 

What was the first job you ever had? 
My first job was part-time at a 5 and 10 cent store. 

What are you doing currently? Passions? Aspirations?

I am currently retired, but does some volunteer work occasionally. 

What was the journey like to get you where you are today both personally and professionally?

I consider my life a voyage: I attended university after I was married with four small children, on a part-time basis. I had to work. So, I worked at an eyeglass factory. I then moved to the Garden City Post Office where I worked loading and unloading mail trucks. That job got strenuous, so I went and took the test to assort the mail by zip codes, and got the job sorting mail at night.
It would be nice if I could say that I got encouragement, but that was not the case. I remember being told that my chances of obtaining a university degree was like an elephant passing through a needle hole. I mentioned this to one of the professors at the university and when I got my first degree, he presented me with a white china elephant. That first degree gave me the determination to go on for my masters.
I made a commitment to myself and to my children that I was going to personally educate myself for them and for me. I knew that I did not have any support that I could depend on, and I always felt that if my marriage did not work, I had to be prepared to stand firmly on my two feet. 

What advice do you have for those wanting to follow in your footsteps?
My advice to young people as a whole is to always remember that what is in your
head cannot be taken from you.
My advice to women is: The best thing you can do for yourselves is to get a good education. Life is not easy, but a good education can make life easier. I have taught just about all levels in education, from day care centres to post secondary education, and then on to college administration. After my retirement I worked as an arbitrator for the Toronto Public Service Grievance Board for three years.

Celebrating Sisterhood (CS) says: Thank you Ms. Ellis for letting us have a look into your life! It is honest, uplifting and motivating.