THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605100050
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VALERIE CARINO CAMPUS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
HEATHER ROBERTSON knows about loss.
The day she left home for Old Dominion University, doctors found a fungus ball in her mother's lung - a sign of lung cancer. Three months later, doctors said Heather's mother had six months to live.
``It seemed like one of those false predictions that doctors make,'' the 21-year-old graduate said while sitting in her apartment last week. ``She looked too good.''
So good that when Heather went home to Florida for spring break, she and her mother played tennis.
But the doctors' predictions came true. At the end of the spring semester, Heather took her last exam and flew home. Two hours later, her mother died. Her death was unexpected.
Now, Heather talks quietly about her loss.
``She's just in such an incredible place (now) that I can't fathom,'' Heather said. ``She doesn't hurt anymore. Because of that, it's real calming.''
Before Heather's mother died, she spoke with her daughter about having faith, but Heather ignored the advice. She didn't have any interest in Christianity. After losing her mother, Heather wanted to learn more about God. This, Heather said, is the driving force behind her plans to become a missionary.
In September, she will move to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a year to work with street children as part of the Young Adult Volunteers Program. The program, started by the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., selects 55 college graduates to work around the globe, not to impose their religious beliefs but to ``reach out to people and build relationships,'' Heather said.
``One of the things that I've learned is that things don't get done by government programs,'' she said. ``Things get done by people who have initiative.''
Heather is only allowed to take $5,000 to Argentina. The reason is simple: ``The people with whom I will be working are at such a base economic level that if I'm not there (living with them), I wouldn't be be able to relate to them,'' Heather said.
``It's going to be challenging, but I am looking forward to it,'' she added.
Heather, who majored in Spanish at ODU and studied for a month last summer at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, hopes to live with a family in Argentina.
Heather has been playing tennis since she was a kid and plans to start a tennis team for the children in Buenos Aires.
She also has a brown belt in karate - that is right below the black belt. And she came in 1,002nd in the Elizabeth River Run three weeks ago. But when it comes to academics, school and community involvement, Heather isn't used to being in the back of the pack.
Last week, she won ODU's Kaufman Award for her service to the community. She was a worship leader in the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and secretary and treasurer of Circle K, the college division of the Kiwanis Club. And she spent two nights a week as an English tutor for Cuban refugees in Norfolk.
On top of that, she graduated with honors and a 3.66 grade point average.
Even now, she sometimes wonders what her mother would have said about her success.
``I wish she could see me,'' Heather said.
Remembering her mother, who, she said, still visits her in her dreams, Heather said: ``She was teaching me the importance of faith. Sometimes we think, I'm just going to class . . . to work, but God is with you in everything you do.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Candice C. Cusic
by CNB