Diana Tarpley Rogers has spent her whole life proving people wrong. She was born with albinism and impaired vision, and some people in her life didn’t believe she’d ever have a career.
“My greatest challenge has been showing people that I can do things even though I have limitations,” she said. “A lot of times they find out I can do them just as well as — if not better than — someone fully sighted.”
Rogers graduated from Dublin High School in 1989. Her first job out of high school was at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
While working there, she completed training to become a certified nurses assistant, or CNA. The next year, she took a job as a CNA at a nursing home in Stephenville and stayed there for a year.
For the next few years, Rogers tried different jobs, working at McDonalds, Winn Dixie, a school cafeteria and another hospital. While her impaired vision sometimes made things difficult, she worked hard and found aides to help her along the way.
In 2007, she found a job she loved, a position as a CNA at Hamilton Hospital. She’s still there 20 years later, although she’s changed jobs within the hospital a few times. She worked several years as a CNA, then worked in housekeeping, and now serves as an admissions clerk. “I love working at the hospital,” she said. “I like helping people.”
Rogers balances her work at the hospital with a sales job on the side for an accessories company called Paparazzi Jewelry. “I sell in person, I can do home parties, and I sell on Facebook live,” she said. “I post pics of what’s available, and I have a website or people come to my house. Paparazzi is $5 jewelry — it’s sparkly and fun.”
Rogers joined the company in 2020. “Three years later I’m still here still having fun, loving the jewelry and meeting some really great people,” she said.
When she has free time, Rogers enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and traveling. Her parents, Roy Dale and Marly Darlene Tarpley, live in Hamilton as well. Rogers has two sons, Stephen and Daniel Gallo, and two grandchildren, Skylar and Syrus.
Throughout her life, Rogers has found strength and support in her family and faith. “My Mom and God have been my greatest inspirations in my life,” she said. “When everyone else was telling me I couldn’t do things because of my vision and albinism my Mom was telling me I could and God was giving me the courage to believe her and to go out and do it.”
Rogers encourages future Dublin graduates to have faith in themselves. “Believe in yourself and in God and you can achieve anything you put your mind to,” she said.
Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.