Write a commentWith four adult children now on their own and a husband who travels the road from Sunday to Friday night, one would think Kristine Soper, of Oswego, would have plenty of time to herself for relaxation or to indulge in hobbies.
This is not, however, the path Soper chooses. Currently, her days begin at 5:30 a.m. and consist of full-time work, school, preparing to start her own business and taking care of two dogs and a cat.
"I work full-time at Morningstar Health Care Center in housekeeping and laundry and I also fill in as a receptionist when they need me to," she said. "I also started going to BOCES three nights a week to become a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA)."
When she is not in class at nights, she is busy with homework. At some point during the program, she will get to do a week of clinical study, which will give her practical experience in a nursing home in a CNA capacity.
Even though Soper only recently began her studies to become a CNA, she said the process actually began earlier in May.
"There was a lot of red tape involved in order to obtain grant money for the program," she said.
Soper said she went through the Department of Employment and Training and it took her the entire summer to get approved. She said it started with a physical exam that she had to pay out of her own pocket, because she currently does not have health insurance.
"Then I had to write an essay stating why I wanted to go to school," Soper said. "But not only was I doing these things through the Office of Employment and Training, I also had a packet from BOCES with a list of things for me to do before I could be accepted into their program."
Soper said she first had to take a test to see if she could even get into the class, which hes passed. Then she had to make sure I was up to date with all of my immunizations and get a physical for them; then write a paper on why she wanted to enter the program.
"It took me all summer – I applied in May for the program and it took all the way until the first week of September to find out if I was approved for the grant," she said. "It was hard; it really was because I was working full time."
But, she said, she was determined and knew it was the right move for her at this time of her life.
Soper said she decided to become a CNA after working at Morningstar for two years and observing the functions of the other CNA's as they assisted the residents with their day-to-day needs and cares.
"Even though you are not supposed to – and I don't care what anybody says – you always get close to the residents," she pointed out. "It is too hard to try to separate yourself from them."
Soper said as she watched, she found she really liked the different aspects of the job.
"I really like to help people and because they (residents) cannot always help themselves, it gives me a feeling of satisfaction to be able to help them," she said.
To that end, however, Soper is putting in long days in order to realize her dream. Her day starts at 5:30 a.m., getting ready to work her shift at the nursing home; then it is home to take care of the animals and grab a quick shower before heading the BOCES in Mexico for classes.
"Then I have a half-hour drive home, trying to retain everything I just learned," she said. "I get home around 9:30 and I am usually so hyped up I can't sleep."
The days she does not have class, Soper is immersed in homework, which can take several hours.
Soper admits the homework is not easy, especially as she has been out of school for 30 years, but she does not let that discourage her from her goal.
Along with her regular job and schools, Soper said she also does some cleaning jobs on the side.
Soper's schedule has her working at the health care facility every other weekend. She said recently she filled in for the receptionist for part of her shift, and then was able to spend the rest of the day engaged in one-on-one interactions with the residents, which she said she loves to do.
"I sat with some of them, others I read to or played cards with," she said. "I also watched TV with them or walked with them around the building."
Having time to do that, she said, merely serves to underscore her passion for and decision to become a certified nurses assistant.
At the end of the program in December, Soper will have to take an exam through BOCES to see if she passes the program. But that still will not ensure she is accredited to begin her career as a CNA.
"I still have to be certified by New York State, which I know will be tough," she said. "I could be failed for something as simple as not washing my hands right."
For Soper, the upside of all of this hard work is a guaranteed position at Morningstar as a CNA once the course is completed.
One of the things she needs for the office of employment and training is a letter stating that she will have a job once she completes her certification. She said Joe Murabito, owner/operator and administrator of the facility, was more than willing to supply her with that.
"When one of my co-workers told Joe what I was doing, he said he was very happy and wanted me to stay at Morningstar," Soper said. "That made me feel so good – somebody wants and appreciates me."
Soper said she does take some time on the weekend to enjoy spending time with her husband of 16 years, Craig. She also has two daughters, Jena, 24, and Brittney, 21, and two stepdaughters, Paige, 21, and Victoria, 18. Jena has gave birth this year to Soper's first grandchild, Rippy, who is nine months old. He is named after his father and grandfather, she explained.
"Jena is a training manager at Subway in Syracuse," Soper said. "The other three are all going to college right now – two are going to Cayuga Community College and one is going to Delhi."
None of them, she said, live with her now.
"Actually, neither does my husband," she said with a laugh, explaining that he is a truck driver and is gone for a majority of the week.
"He leaves at 6 p.m. Sunday night and doesn't get back home until around 6 p.m. Friday night," she said.
Soper admits it is hard, but they still have bills to pay and provide financial support while their daughters are in college.
"It's hard, but we've been doing that for 12 years," she said. "You know, you've got to pay the bills. You gotta do what you gotta do. Eventually, he will be looking for a job closer to home."
For now, with just her two dogs and cat for company most of the week, she admitted she could have chosen to just sit back and relax, enjoying her alone time after helping to raise four children and now working full-time. But that just did not cut it for Soper. And, once she finishes her classes and begins her new career, Soper does not intend to slow down. She does plan to stop her extracurricular housecleaning jobs, but she is now in the process of setting up her own company with Tastefully Simple.
"I can work during the day and then do Tastefully Simple at night," Soper said. "Those are my goals."
She said she realizes it all will not happen overnight, but she has it all planned out and is methodically taking every step necessary to make her dream come to fruition.
"The funny part is, no one really thought I would go through with it," she said.
Soper said her husband has been very supportive and told her he would back her one hundred percent. Some of her friends and relatives, and even a co-worker or two, however, expressed their doubts that she would follow through with the program.
"But, you know, I always wanted to be there for the girls and so sort of put my life on hold," Soper said. "Now, nothing will stop me from doing what I want to do."
