Ep. 11: Travel, Transition, and Creating a Career in an Emerging Field with Cindy

The Words We've Heard

Travel, Transition, and Creating a Career in an Emerging Field with Cindy

In this episode of The Words We’ve Heard, host Marbree Sullivan sits down with Cindy, whose life bridges academia, ministry, and family with humility and grace. From an idyllic childhood in Connecticut to studying abroad in the Netherlands as a teenager, Cindy’s early years sparked a lifelong love of language, learning, and global awareness.

She shares the experience of attending a girl’s school in Europe, encountering sexism in college, transferring to Yale, finding a calling in an emerging profession, and more. Cindy speaks candidly about losing her mother at a young age, divorce, finding a true life partner in her second husband, how retirement opened the door to a surprising second career as a deacon, and the gift of learning different cultures.

This is a story about broadening perspectives, service, family, education, and the courage to make your way in the world.

🎧 Key Moments in the Episode

• [00:00:00] – A Joyful Childhood in Connecticut and Relocating as a Teen
  
• [00:07:25] – Studying Abroad in the Netherlands and Learning to Dream in Dutch
  
• [00:12:45] – Coming Home: Culture Shock and Debate Team
  
• [00:17:27] – Choosing a Course of Study and Transferring to Yale
  
• [00:21:12] – Losing Her Mother and Starting Life as an Adult
  
• [00:23:40] – Finding Her Calling in Social Work
  
• [00:28:00] – Raising a Family, Pursuing a PhD, and Balancing it All
  
• [00:35:00] – Becoming a Deacon and Discovering a Second Vocation
  
• [00:40:58] – Living with Her Husband’s Alzheimer’s and Shifting Needs
  
• [00:48:55] – A Wish for the World: Be Kind to One Another
  

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