What This 101 yd Pioneer Taught Me

In 1942 she received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan 😮

 She was one of the first females 👏🏼to graduate from University of Michigan’s College of Engineering 🎉

In 1941 she was the first Michigan woman to receive an honorary associate membership from Tau Beta Pi. 🥇 They were a MALE-ONLY organization and women weren’t granted full membership until 1969.

 Her requests to visit the oil fields while working for Shell Chemical Company ⛽ were denied again and again because women weren’t allowed on the fields in those days.

 AFTER she raised 4 children👶🏼👶🏼👶🏼👶🏼 she earned a Master’s degree in Mathematics from Western Michigan University with a specialty in computer science.

She taught computer science for 14 years at Western Michigan University during the second half of her career.

At 100 years old, she threw herself a Centennial Ball because she was a competitive ballroom dancer. Yep, you read that right!

She is my husband’s grandmother. Her name is Tenho Connable and she passed in January of this year at 101 years old. As we reflect on her life and how she paved her own path, she has directly and indirectly taught me: 

1-      Investing in educating yourself is the best investment you can ever make 📚 because knowledge truly is power. 🔥

2-      Plan for longevity. 🧓🏼 Tenho never intended to live so long. She was always matter of fact about death. But she did financially planning for living a long life, mind you she didn’t get a head start and was definitely behind while trying to raise 4 children on a budget. What she did have was consistency in saving! 💰

3-      You will live a ton of lives in this lifetime. 🗻You are always evolving. Detach yourself from other people’s expectation. Follow the curiosity in your heart with intention. Straying from your intended path will open you up to a whole different world! 🌎

 Rest In Peace Tenho 🌷