Kim follows her career dreams

Sam Baird, from Baird's Opticians, with Kim Murdock who is leaving after working in the shop for 21 years as an optical assistant to take up a new career as a midwife. US1535-508cd Picture: Cliff Donaldson

Kim, an optical assistant with Sam Baird’s Opticians, is leaving her job this month to begin a Midwifery course at Queen’s University.

The local woman has been with the Lisburn opticians for 21 years, but she is preparing to leave her post on Friday September 11, and will begin her new adventure at Queen’s on September 21.

Kim has been preparing for her course by watching plenty of ‘One Born Every Minute’ and the mum of four boys has otherwise been keeping busy with evening volunteer work for Childline, studying for her Access Course and, of course, her work at the opticians.

Her employer, Sam Baird, said Kim was a ‘star of a girl’.

“Kim started here at 17, and is leaving this month after 21 years,” he said.

“We are terribly sad to lose her but she has always wanted to do midwifery.

“She’s a star of a girl. She mans the phones for childline at night, she’s got four children and took night classes to get her qualifications.

“We’ll be really sad to lose her, but we are losing her to her lifetime ambition.”

Kim said she was ‘very, very excited,’ to get started on her course.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do, “ she said, “but I had my family first. I just can’t wait.

“I’m very, very excited, but I’m emotional too; I’ve been here such a long time and I will keep in touch with everyone.

“They were really kind and gave me an engraved nursing watch and bought my nursing shoes, which aren’t the most attractive shoe, but are the most confortable pair of shoes I’ve had.

“I thought maybe I’m too old for this, but then my mum pointed out that I have more of my working life left.”

Kim will be spending her time between university, working on the labour ward and getting experience in the hospital.

She had to go through an interview to get onto her course and was delighted to be accepted.

“It’s really hard to get into the course; there are only 40 people and there are usually 1,300 applicants.

“I’m really proud of myself, it’s been a lot of hard work, but when you want something enough you’ll do it.”