By Shantanu Sanyal, 2010

       You take medication, you get sick, or perhaps you’re just a hypochondriac; either way, you have met Katharine Nevins.  She doles out your medication, perhaps makes you a bowl of soup, and then sends you on your merry way.  You’ve met her son, the infamous guitar player, but few at Proctor really know her.

         In fact, Proctor plays a relatively minor role in Katharine’s life.  Katharine is the mother of four children, all of whom were home schooled up until high school.  Being a nurse in various places helped prepare her to raise her children, two of whom attend Proctor. 

         When Katharine isn’t working at the Proctor Health Center, she is working in a bookstore owned and operated by herself and her family.  “The small bookstore in Warner plays an important role in the community there,” says Katharine, “It serves as both a bookstore and a community center.  People hold local events there.” But that’s not the only way the bookstore helps the community.  Each year, the bookstore gives out two scholarships to locals.  I asked how the bookstore could possibly fund something like that.  Katharine started taking used books last year and decided to put all revenue made off the used books towards the awards.  Katharine says that the bookstore really makes her happy because she knows that she is assisting those in her community who need it most.

         Of course, nursing is very important to Katharine as well.  “Nursing and dealing with teenagers really helped me when it came time to deal with mine.”   Katharine loves being a nurse, and is quite dedicated towards her job, spending the night at the Health Center periodically.  Nursing seems to satisfy Katharine’s desire to help others.  Nursing, she says, has opened a lot of job opportunities for her, and provided some job security. 

         When I interviewed Katharine, I saw a kind-hearted, generous person who is very dedicated to improving the lives of others.  She seemed to genuinely want to help people, and really seemed to care.  After meeting with her, I’m more than convinced that this is the case.  Katharine is a warm person who has spent her life working hard to help others around her.