Alumni Profile – Kaija Lium ‘91

Since graduating my life has unfolded like a choose‑your‑own‑adventure story - full of snow,

classrooms, and hospital hallways. Miss Courser’s first aid class set the first chapter in motion, and by senior year I was riding with Lyndon State Rescue alongside Rick Dane ‘81 and Dan Simpson ‘92, discovering how much I loved caring for people in moments that mattered. I headed west to the University of Wyoming, then moved to Lake Tahoe, where I joined a backcountry ski and avalanche patrol in the Sierras. At the National Avalanche Conference in 1998, I even ran into Doug Graham ‘76 - proof that LI grads have a way of appearing in the most unexpected places. I taught wilderness survival to kids through the local Search and Rescue team, which nudged me toward a new adventure: teaching. Vermont eventually pulled me home, and I taught science while volunteering with the Lyndon Outing Club ski patrol. In 2017, I became an RN and began working in the operating room at Dartmouth Hitchcock and always enjoyed catching up with Debra (Edwards) Smith ‘93, who worked in the recovery area. I later became a certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse, specializing in complex abdominal wounds and ostomies, and teaching the next generation of nurses and doctors. When I’m not at the hospital, I’m usually traveling or adventuring outdoors with my life partner, Nemi - still following that choose‑your‑own‑adventure spirit wherever it leads.

Enterostomal Nurse Clinician at Dartmouth Hitchcock

I have two children: Tydus (21) is a junior at Norwich University and Trinity “Marz” (16) is a junior at Windsor, VT high school.

I am the only LI Viking!  My sisters went to St. Johnsbury Academy, which adds another dimension to “sibling rivalry”.

Working on the yearbook with Tina Mitchell Stowell ’92 in Mrs. Findlay’s room.

Jumping out Mr. Twombley’s classroom window on the third floor to the ledge outside.  I’m impressed that I was able to get back in, because it was a lot further down than I thought!

Miss Courser’s PE and first aid classes.  I liked the variety of physical things we tried in our PE class.

The English classes, because I didn’t like reading books.

Snow sculptures!  It was amazing what you could make with a pile of snow plus teen-age energy and creativity. 

Choose Your Own Adventure 

Pizza!  I used to go up for seconds, which resulted in me being named the Most Popular Lunch Customer in our senior yearbook, along with Brian Miller.

 

Eric Johnson was always welcoming, had a good sense of humor, and made US History interesting. He came of age during the Vietnam War and I appreciated how openly he talked about that time.

 

I liked “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel, because it was one big summary of all the things I learned about in Mr. Johnson’s contemporary US History class.  

 

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.  The time will pass anyway.”  ~Earl Nightingale

 

I lived on the lower campus, so I didn’t drive, but somehow, I was always late!

Rob Stowell ’89, had a cool truck with big tires, no wonder why Tina married him.

That I didn’t get to know my schoolmates better.  I had a lot of social anxiety and had a hard time connecting with people.

No.  I found science fascinating, but it was a very hard subject for me, so it took a while for me to get the courage and persistence to pursue it.

What advice do you have for students as they look for future careers or programs to apply to?  

You have a path, you may not know what it is yet, but each step you take is a step towards discovering what it is (or is not).  Don’t worry, life will nudge you back if you get off track.  Have fun!

Heidi Cotte Broome ‘93, Bonnie Colwell Foster ‘92, Loretta Fenoff Irwin ‘91, and Tina Mitchell Stowell ‘92.  They are still a very important part of my life and really keep me going.