We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chastaine Kendrick. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chastaine below.
Chastaine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
When I first dropped out of college after 2 years, I was working as a waitress and living with my parents off and on. I was getting the majority of my income through cash tips, and being 21 years old, I found infinite numbers of things to spend this money on, and frequently didn’t have enough to pay my bills. My Dad took it upon himself to pick me up from work everyday and stop at the bank so I could deposit that cash rather than spend it. It was this loving gesture that helped me to save money to buy a car and eventually go back to school. My mom was just there, always. She took care of me when I was sick, taught me to cook, and also taught me some fundamentals of art and composition. She was a talented painter herself.
My Dad had also been a wire photo editor for the AP in Boston during WW2, and I got my love of photography from him, as well as my fascination with photo editing.
Between those two, after I retired from a 40+year career in Healthcare, those initial artistic seeds that they so lovingly planted, came to bloom in my new incarnation as a hobbyist photographer.
Chastaine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a retired Advanced Practice Nurse and Certified Nurse Midwife with over 40 years of experience in the healthcare field. I was the youngest of 4 children, and helped care for my elderly parents and special needs sister for many years before their passings. I am married to my best friend, and enjoy meditation and quiet walks in the woods. I don’t really have a brand or organization. My art form, photography, takes its shape during long nature walks, but also in volunteering within my community in taking resident headshots, pet portraits, and being an assistant photo editor for a local magazine. (Thanks Dad!) I also belong to a local award winning photography club, Cherokee Photography Club in North Georgia. I enter in competitions and have won some awards through them.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
As a healthcare professional, I would definitely choose this option again. It as an excellent career choice and definitely fed into my dream of becoming an artist through photography.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
During my nursing career, I wanted to go back to school for a masters degree in nursing and my dream was to become a nurse midwife. After 15 years of frustration and just barely making ends meet as I was caring for 3 indigent family members, my husband was able to provide income enough for me to finally achieve this dream. It was a huge turning point in my life, not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually as well.
Image Credits
All photos taken by Chastaine Kendrick. Personal photo taken by spouse.