Cath’s ‘other’ sliding door moment from Retail shop assistant to Scientist

So I just— I'm interested in that time where you went from, you know, working in the shop to going, I'm going to do science. So how old were you? And, and tell me the situation.

In my 30s when I went to do science, and, um, it was because I was working in the shop and it was fun, but I have to be honest, it was mind-numbing. You know, I did have this couple of wonderful customers that came in. One of them was, um, a lady that was a playwright, and I used to love it when she came in because we'd talk together. And, uh, but a lot of the time, I, I mean, I love window displays, I loved, you know, wearing the clothes. It was a little bit of a hippie shop, to be honest. And I, I was one of those people that continually dressed in black, a little on the goth side. And, um, so were my kid, one of my kids. And, um, and I did love it and the kids would come in and meet me there sometimes, but very mind-numbing. And a friend of mine had gone to uni. I was still married and then my husband didn't even want me to go to university. I was a wife and a mother. Hang on here. And so I did go to university and, uh, I started doing it part-time and working. And, you know, um, and then I—

science, like, what, what was that?

Oh, it was interesting. Um, I know this sounds a real bit wanky, but what happened was someone said to me— I went to uni and it wasn't working out too well because I started with ancient history because I used to love the stories. And then I realized ancient history wasn't for me. It was too much reading and writing. And, and someone said, look, if you're at uni, you should do what you found easy at school or you did well in, and that was always science. To me, science was, you know, was so easy. There was, there was an answer there. That's the result. That's what you go to. That's what you get. And, um, so I went back to— I started in that and dropped out, and then I went back and did science. And I thought, oh, I'll go to science and become a school teacher. And then I got there and I did you know, my science degree. And I thought, ooh, I might just do honors in case it's more research, you know, cuz I was gonna do science degree, teacher ed, and then become a science teacher. And, um, I went to a teacher interview thing with my, um, daughter and he, I was talking to the science teacher cuz a lot of my work was on mitochondria. I love, and that's the energy of the human body. I mean, I can't believe that. Energy is such an important aspect of life. Anyway, I was doing mitochondria and I was talking to the teacher and he said, oh, you're working on the Eve gene. And I said, oh yeah, yeah. And, and I suddenly thought, man, how constraining to teach the same thing over and over again. When I go to science at the uni and it, uh, you know, you're always presented with the latest, what's going on, what's happening. And it, you know, I thought, well, I'll just do the PhD to be sure. I mean, my poor mother was beside herself because I used to ring her occasionally and say, why am I doing this? Why do I think I can do honors? Why do I think I can do a PhD? And then of course I get off the phone. She's had to deal with that. And I'm back to it and studying and working. Um, I got to the stage of course where I would study full-time and do the PhD. Of course, I'd left the shop by then, but, um, I couldn't see myself working in a shop basically for the rest of my life. It was like a fun hobby thing to do, you know.

And then parasites, where did, where did that interest come from?

Like, you know, oh my God, I was at the University of Queensland. I was, you know, I was there, and I swear it would have been one of the earliest lectures, I had this lecturer turned up and walked in, and to be honest, he is an outstanding lecturer. Outstanding. You know, I used to look at him, and there was another one, I used to think, why are they so good? And it's because they walk in and they take up the presence and they entertain you and they inform you. Actually, I got to take that to my classes. And, um, He was there and he talked about parasites, and I think I thought, oh my God, that's it, I love it. And I then went down that stream. Back in those days, you could, you know, major in parasites, but it was already starting to be like, oh no, viruses are the new thing. And viruses are parasites, I might add. But, um, so I did extra subjects and had two fields. So I have parasitology and microbiology. So my PhD and honors are in both those.

And, and just to think that you went from, like, you know, shy— just share with me, you shared a story about how shy you were in your original role.

I think, you know, I think that's why my husband loved me. He thought, oh my God, I've got this tiny little thing and she won't go out. I remember saying to a friend, um, I'd met at playgroup, and I said to her— she's still my friend today— she said, 'Do you want to go out tonight?' And I said, 'Oh, that sounds interesting. I'll have to go home and ask my husband.' And she goes, 'What?' I said, 'I'll have to ask George,' you know, my husband, 'if I can go.' And, um, she goes, 'You don't have to ask permission from anybody.' And I thought, 'What's she talking about, man?' Anyway, Um, so this is no longer your husband, just to point out. No, no, but he's still cool. I mean, I see him, we chat, there's no animosity. The same one that didn't want me to do the university degree, go to university, and the same one that— yeah, so I think he was very happy. But when I met him, I was— and he was a big person, and I think I just saw him as a big protective thing. It was, you know, 6-footer, and, um, My partner now is about 5'4", so I don't need protection, I just want company. Um, and I, when I was so shy as a, as a young adult, um, my first job was in the public service, and, uh, fortunately my desk was towards the back of the room, and, um, I'd have to go to the bathroom and I I try and time it for morning tea when there's a lot of movement. But otherwise I would sit there thinking, oh my God, I've gotta walk all the way up the front of this room, walk to the left, and then, you know, go to the bathroom and I won't drink, I won't do things, I won't— I was super, I was incredibly shy.

Isn't that, isn't that amazing? You know, the, whatever the circumstances are that kind of lead us to you know, these fears that we have or the beliefs that we have. And just transforming that now from that experience that you've had to now working with children and helping them see, you know, these emotions or these fears or these concerns that come up and treat them with, I guess, the levity that you do in the games. It's refreshing because you've got that background that says, I was so scared I wouldn't even go to the bathroom. And you know that I'm now, you know, here I am talking to all of these people and sharing the story. So it be nice to be able to draw on some of those experiences.

I think so. And I wonder if that's part of the thing. I can see how much I've changed, and I'm a little bit driven, you know. I was, you know, even turning up, being a student— oh my God— and being a mature student. I was there one day and I thought, oh, thank God that there's a person in this class similar age to me, you know. And I sort of nodded at her and sat down feeling until she got up and she was a lecturer. It was so disappointing. But there was a couple of mature age students going through, but, you know, I didn't care. I, I mean, I, I just fought against it because I was determined this was what I want. This is what I was passionate about then, you know. And, um, this is— I got that same vibe, you know. This is— I don't care, you know. I'm— I want to do this. I'm passionate about it. And I know that I've made all these changes myself through my life, so I, I know it's possible. And it'd be so nice if someone said, look, I'll show you how you can do it. And especially struggle, don't sit there dying to go to the bathroom.

Exactly. And capturing people at a young age so that they don't get to 30, 40, 50, 60, whatever, and go, yeah, I now have permission. I don't have to have the permission from the authority to say it's okay. Well, look, I really appreciate you sharing this extra little bonus of your story. Thank you so much, Cath, and thank you for giving some insight into, I guess, the path that you've taken and the many sliding doors and the opportunities that you've had and the objections and I guess the reasons that you had invitations along the way to say no and just go back to a life of comfort and conformity and be in the desk at the back of the room and worried about what's next. Jane Slack-Smith, thank you so much for sharing your story with us.

Thanks, Jane, always a pleasure with you.