Sally Wurth '65
I had the most enjoyable college experience. Cal State Long Beach was a natural choice for college having been born and spending all of my educational years in Long Beach.There was not a time during my collegiate years when I felt I should be anyplace else at this time in my life.
My major was nursing, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I was a member of the first class of baccalaureate trained nurses at Long Beach State College. The first freshman class consisted of 50 nursing students. After rigorous academic and clinical coursework (we were required to take physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, 2 semesters of anatomy and physiology (we had the first cadaver to be dissected at the school), psychology, sociology, along with regular undergrad requirements), thirteen of us graduated in 1965. We were the first baccalaureate class in Nursing from LBSC which in 1965 had then become California State University Long Beach. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Nursing program and of our graduation. As the first nursing class, we were the program ambassadors and pioneers to many program activities and relationships i.e., the first into hospitals, clinical and community rotations.
I joined a sorority and was a cheerleader, providing memorable extracurricular activities. I worked to pay for tuition, books, nursing uniforms, and sorority dues. Between off-campus nursing requirements, courses and study, work and social/school activities it was a very busy and productive time.
Besides being part of a close-knit nursing class and program I was a Varsity Cheer Leader, in Delta Delta Delta Sorority, and a Little Sister of Minerva of Sigma Alpha Epsilon along with many associated activities.
I have many fond memories, a fun one was when as a cheerleader during halftime at the LBSC basketball game I made 15 consecutive free throws without missing one of them. It was a shocker for everyone including me.
I was involved every year in 49er days building booths and dressing in clothing of the California mining towns and campaigning for Black Bart and Lotta Crabtree. I attended many sporting events as a cheerleader especially a football and a basketball. I remember having great fun attending intramural competitions in slow pitch during the lunch hour. I participated in “Spring Sings” and attended other musical competitions and dances. There were many various sorority and fraternity events as well.
The cafeteria- there were several tables that people I knew would be at during the day.I could always stop by and find someone to talk to and visit. There was a grassy slope outside the cafeteria that was a great spot on sunny days.
My Psychiatric Nursing Instructor, I cannot recall her name. We had clinical rotations to Metropolitan State Hospital for adult, Fairview for the child, and local mental health clinics. She was an excellent teacher but also a keen observer of her students. She counseled that I would be most successful and would naturally excel in areas that were motivational for me. It seems so logical but as a young student, it made me more aware of considerations for making personal and professional decisions.
I graduated with the knowledge and skill and academic credentials to become a licensed registered nurse and public health nurse. My career path was clear and employment options varied. Nursing also provides knowledge and skills for everyday life and parenting/family, as well as, having applications for other career choices. I had a very well rounded and satisfying college experience which allowed me to make positive decisions for my future.
I went to work as a registered nurse at Long Beach Memorial Hospital mainly on the Med/Surg floor followed by some clinic work and the Emergency Room at St. Mary’s Hospital. I married and had 3 children. When we moved to Orange County I taught nursing assistants and medical occupations for the Regional Occupations Programs.I then went into Public Health Nursing working for the County of Orange Health Care Agency for 25 years retiring as a Public Health Nurse Manager.
We live in a 125-year-old Victorian home in the Olive area of Orange with a rose garden of 100 plus roses, a never-ending job of restoration and gardening. We have many gatherings of family and friends.I stay connected with 3 fellow nursing students and other college friends.
I and two other fellow nursing graduates Nancy Sonntag Brown and Kathy O’Shea Schwabl are working on contacting our fellow graduates to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our graduation and the establishment of the CSULB Nursing Program. We are planning a gathering in the first week of October 2015. We request fellow graduates of our 1965 Nursing Program to please contact me through the Alumnae Department.
Husband- Richard Kenneth Wurth; sisters- Roselind Schilling Killeen, Mary Catherine Schilling Merys; niece- Julianne Merys, nephew-James Bermudez; great-niece- Lauren Bermudez.
Just for fun – I remember: going to “Beatlemania” parties, school attire - all the girls wore skirts or dresses and guys wore khaki slacks, and sayings such as “this is true”, “righteous”, and “neato jet”.
