It wasn’t until about 6 months later I saved enough money to purchase my first transceiver (Tempo One) and finally got on the air. My first contact was with Roger, KA8AWT. I was so nervous I never told him he was my first contact. My second contact was later that day with Bob, AF1I. I loved Morse code and it wasn’t long before I was copying 20 WPM. I joined the Fall River Amateur Radio Club and Apple Valley Amateur Radio Club. It wasn’t long before I signed up to upgrade my license in a class taught by Pat, K1QVF. I upgraded to General in March of 1980 on the 16th floor of the Customs house in Boston. I participated in my first Field Day in June 1980 aboard the Battleship Massachusetts which was aired on Channel 6 News. In October 1980, I along with Cliff, WA1ZCD (study partner and mentor) upgraded to Extra. I graduated from RISE in 1981 with a 96% average. It wasn’t long after I got out of school that I was hired at Foxboro Company working as an Electronics Troubleshooter. In 1982 I began attending college nights. It took me 8 years of night school while working full time during the day. I was the first woman to graduate with a B.S. Degree in Computer Engineering from Roger Williams College. Today I work as an Electronics Engineer for the Federal Aviation Administration and have been with them for 19 years.