Dr. Carla Johnston's life story, uniquely her own, also resonates with all women. Fraught with roadblocks and buoyed by unexpected support, Carla's dream of becoming a clinician to serve others on their health journey is interwoven with her life journey. Through bravery, resilience, and a dogged belief in herself, she became a freshman at fifty. Empowering and enlightening, this is an amazing story. From childhood through her teen years, Dr. Carla Johnston had to work harder than most can even imagine, attempting to avoid her father's wrath. Rarely allowed to spend time with friends, Dr. Johnston was forced to leave high school early each day to help keep her father's office afloat instead of taking the science classes that would have furthered her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. As a young mother, Dr. Johnston had to again put her aspirations on hold, this time to support herself and her son. Throughout a string of marriages to men who seemed terrific until she dared verbalize her desire to attend college, Dr. Johnston tried desperately to give her son the family life and herself the support she never had. Working day and night, her eye also remained on the prize of becoming a doctor. Freshman at Fifty takes the reader on the roller coaster ride that was Dr. Carla Johnston's life, complete with twists, turns, and spirals. Buckle up and hang on tightly! Despite our life-long friendship, I found myself mesmerized while reading Dr. Carla Johnston's surreal true story, fraught with immeasurable heartache and unfettered determination. Get ready for the surprise ending! ---Mary DeGrezia, PhD, RN The wondrous journey Dr. Johnston takes us on is a quest of the inner self, and the pursuit of self in all its colors of evolution. We, the audience, are taken on a deep dive into fears, doubts, insecurities, feelings of being unloved, the courage of will power and ultimately the self-love needed when our inner self is restless due to its desire to fulfill our soul's purpose, dreams and assignments while here on earth. Freshman at Fifty is a candid reminder of the obstacles we have faced and those yet to come. Dr. Johnson shares how in following our inner self, we are led to the freedom we yearn for, realization, fulfilled dreams, purpose that give true meaning and a silver lining of joy and contentment in our lives. ---Eva Garrick, M.Msc. As I read through each chapter, I could see and feel how the layering of Carla's life events created deep wounds that then turned into valuable Soul Lessons. In the end her strength and tenacity heals and opens you up to her self-realization of the beauty and perfection that lies within us. I appreciate Carla's courage in putting it all out there. I'm sure many will find themselves in this story! ---Tracy Houchins Advanced Soul Coach Reiki Master Teacher MagicintheMess.com Dr. Carla Johnston holds a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from the Maryland University of Integrative Health, an M.S. in Herbal Medicine from the University of Integrative Health, and an M.A. in Applied Sociology University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a board-certified Clinical Nutrition Specialist through the American Nutrition Association and a licensed nutritionist in Maryland. Carla has more than 25 years' experience in healthcare as an account manager responsible for sales, clinical support, and education for products used in operating suites and intensive care units within area hospitals. At mid-life, she shifted her career trajectory, exploring programs steeped in mind-body medicine traditions. Through the pursuit of academic programs focused on these principles, she started her clinical practice specializing in providing nutrition education for women aged fifty and older; creating her signature Nourishment programs, workshops, and courses.