Marie Law
36 Years Later
By: Michelle Thompson
After 36 dedicated, treasured and hard-working years at pilipili漫画鈥檚 Faculty of Agriculture, it is a bittersweet retirement for Marie Law, Graduate Program Assistant at the end of August 2016.
Marie first began working at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in August 1980 as the secretary for the Department of Biology. 鈥淎t that time, the departmental secretaries in Cox Institute worked in an office pool located in what became the 鈥楶lant Science Office area鈥� until the new addition to the building was constructed in 1984,鈥� explains Marie. 鈥淭he Library was downstairs in Cox Institute and what has grown into Extended Learning started out as Vocational and Technical Education and was also housed in Cox Institute. The Department of Animal Science was located in Boulden Building prior to the construction of Haley Institute,鈥� she added. 鈥淭here were beef cattle and swine on the farm and the poultry centre did not exist. I saw the birth of the Rock Garden,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been a lot of changes since 1980.鈥�
The campus isn鈥檛 the only thing that changed throughout Marie鈥檚 career, her position did as well. After the Biology and Chemistry departments merged to form the Department Environmental Sciences, she went on to work in that department as secretary, serving mainly the former Biology faculty and at that time, also worked with IT.聽 This was followed by a stint in the Principal鈥檚 Office on a maternity leave and then a position in the Research and Graduate Studies office which merged into her current position as, Graduate Program Assistant.
鈥淢y most rewarding years at the AC and been in my current position,鈥� explains Marie. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much interaction with the students here, which I really enjoy. When I started working closely with grad students, it changed how I looked at the world,鈥� she added. 鈥淢eeting so many people of different nationalities over the years has enriched my life. I admire how the students present themselves when they come into the office, even in frustrating and unsure times. Even though they are adults, I think of them as my 鈥榢ids鈥� at times, I will miss being here for them. They have been a huge and wonderful part of my life.鈥�
Marie is passionate about trying to make a difference, 鈥渆specially for those students who are away from their families for a prolonged period 鈥� to be a positive part of their life,鈥� explains Marie. She also loves making a not-so-good day for a student perhaps just a little better. 鈥淚 feel good about coming to work in the mornings because I don鈥檛 just look at it as work, I feel like I am doing service 鈥� helping others,鈥� explains Marie.
Marie鈥檚 time at the AC has been happy, challenging and satisfying.聽 鈥淭he working environment is second to none 鈥� respectful, fun and supportive,鈥� she explains. 聽鈥淚 have met many fine people and forged lifetime friendships.聽 When I retire, I will miss the students and the daily challenges and problem-solving that come along with this job. I will also miss the social atmosphere and comradery of my fellow colleagues,鈥� explains Marie.
Immediately upon retirement, Marie along with her husband, Art, and dog, Mleka, plan to travel out West. 鈥淲ith no time commitments, we鈥檙e flying out, visiting our daughter, Elizabeth, in Alberta and my aunt in Vancouver,鈥� explains Marie. 鈥淲e then intend to secure a camper van and enjoy a leisurely cross-country drive back home,鈥� she added. 鈥淣o deadlines 鈥� it seems like a dream!鈥�