Page 26 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

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Senior
Senior
Zandra Cartwright
Living with Purpose
by Emma Cartwright
hen I asked my
grandmother, “What
Wmade you who you are
today?” she replied nonchalantly,
“A boring life.” I laughed, not
being able to imagine why she
replied to me in this manner.
There had to be a reason why
she would so unsparingly move
from fifteen years of work at
Covenant Medical Center to take
care of her grandchildren. This,
as I later found out, was due
to the satisfaction she received
from generously giving joy to her
grandchildren and those around
her.
Born and raised in Plainview,
Texas, Zandra Cartwright has
guided me through my life with
strong ardor. She has been by
my side through the peaks and
valleys I have encountered and
has laid the firm foundation of
who I have become.
As a young adult, Zandra was
very reserved and considered
herself an introvert, much like
myself. Growing up in Plainview,
my grandma lived a very simple
life—school had been her main
occupation, and she highly
valued the education she was
26 Lubbock Senior Link
Lubbock Senior Link
26
receiving.
Instead of
indulging
in playtime
activities in
elementary
school, my
Nana could
always
be found
curled up
with a book. She still loves to
read books and has always had
a keen interest in them. In her
later school years at Plainview
High, my Nana took courses such
as home economics, business
courses, typing and shorthand.
(Whenever I need my choir dress
hemmed or I have a rip in a
prom dress, I know I can always
count on her to make me the
most beautiful young woman she
wants me to be.)
In her senior year of high school,
Zandra took cosmetology and
received her license the summer
following her graduation. A year
after working in a beauty shop,
she married my grandfather,
Gary. Deeply in love, the two
moved to San Diego for my
Papa's service in the Navy.
During 1973, my father, Chad,
was born in San
Clemente, California.
A year later, my Nana
and her family moved
to Lubbock where they
had another son, Neil,
in 1977. After moving,
my grandmother
began to work for the
Justice of the Peace
and continued that
work for some years. It is evident
that her unwavering faithfulness,
reliability, and high morals have
sprouted from this experience.
Zandra has always had a
reputation for honesty, integrity,
and fairness. After working
for the Justice of the Peace, my
grandmother worked for LISD
as the secretary at Estacado
High School for five years. When
Zandra decided to leave LISD,
she then worked at Covenant for
fifteen years in public relations.
Education was and still is very
valuable to my Nana, so she
studied at Texas Tech University
while still working at Covenant
to receive her degree in general
studies at the age of 51.
While still working at Covenant,
Zandra realized that the greatest