| College Days |
| I started college in the fall of 1995 at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion Indiana, eight hours away from my home in Pittsburgh. I began at that time to persue my dream of being an Elementary teacher. I enjoyed my classes and made friends easily, especially my personal care attendents Caroline and Julia. I was also close to my disabilities conselor Doneen, and my academic advisor Mrs.Tommie Barnes. The first semester passed without anything unusual, except the roommate and general ajustment problems that a typical freshman would have. However, at the beginning of my second semester, something happened that changed my life. |
| Losing Daddy The day was February 16, 1996, the time about 1:30 PM. My counselor from OSD came into my room and asked me if I'd been sleeping, which I had been. She told me that there had been complications and they were sending me home to Pittsburgh. I knew it was bad then. "Is he going to make it?" I asked. She shook her head, no, and I lost it. My, PCA Julia, came to help me get ready amd my Aunt Joann and Uncle Jack came from Indianapolis to take me home. By the time I left school 20 people had come in and out of my room including the university chaplin, my college pastor, and many friends. I called my Mom right after Doneen told me and she said, "Daddy's already gone to be with Jesus." I found out out that he had died from a stroke during the triple bypass surgury he had undergone. I lost it again and went hystarical. By the time Uncle Jack and Aunt Joann got there I was calm and ready to go. The next day was really hard because I knew I would have to face the truth. I walked into the funeral home with my mom and brother Justin beside me. Dad looked so peaceful like he had just fallen asleep. I said to Mom "I wouldn't wish him back for the world." The day of the funeral was the hardest. Dave and Abbey, my 2 best friends from high school, were there early and didn't leave my side all day. It was as if they were my honor gaurd trying to protect me as much as they could. Three weeks later I returned to school to finish the term and finished it with a 3.0 GPA to the surprise of everyone, most of all me. I stayed for another year at IWU then made the decission to finish school closer to home. Geneva Days I transfered from IWU to Geneva College in Beaver Falls PA, about an hour away from Pittsburgh. It was there that I met my three best college buddies Ryan Estas, John Mark Henery, and Crista Brooks. I contunied my quest for teacher's certification and had a ball at the same time. I went to many social fuctions and got turned on to college football. It was during this time that I also began to like Star Wars, thanks to Crista and our mutual friend John Wagner, who called himself Vader and even dressed up as Vader for Geneva's home football games. I also bought my first floor leagth ballgown. It was made by designer Jessica McClintock. Geneva Says "No Student Teaching" I was a semester away from graduation and ready to do my student teaching, the last step toward achieving my dream of becoming a certified teacher, but Geneva had other plans. After letting me complete my junior field work at New Brighton Elementary School, I was called in by Geneva's director of student teaching and told that the department had decided not to give me a student teaching assignment because they didn't feel that it was in my best interest to student teach due to what they saw as reduced physical stamina. In reality it is a manifestation of my disability. It is not unusual for a person with spastic CP to be extremely tired by 3 pm due to the increased demands of living. In my mind, however, this can be accommadated by allowing a fifteen minute break each day for me to take a nap if nessecarry. But I didn't know how to fight back, so I listened to my professors who I respected (and still do) and completed my degree requirements by doing twelve hours of interships in fields related to education. I did two internships in Christian Education, one at Child Evanglism Fellowship as an administrative assistant, and one at Chipawa Evangelical Free Church as assistant Children's Ministeries dirictor. I also had a special education internship at the Beaver County Rehabilitation Center (BCRC), a sheltered workshop for disabled teens and adults. I was a tutor of basic reading, math, and hygene skills and loved it. It was there that I found my true nitch as a special educator. Thank you Geneva! Even though I didn't like it at first the semester of intership gave me the break I needed so that I'd be ready to fight again in the fall. Graduation 2000 May 12, 2000, I will not soon forget. In spite of being tired from the class trip to New York City I was ready to go. It was graduation day! I met my Mom, Dad and brothers at the entrance to the auditoruim and they had a surprise for me. My friend Andy had taken the day off and come with them to see commencement. The speaker for that day was the current Secertary of State for the State of New Jersey under Governor Christine Todd Wittman. He made all the women in the audience cheer when he said, "Women can not only vote in New Jesery, women are in charge in New Jersey." When President White gave me my degree he said, "Congratulations, we love you." That was a bitter sweet momemt. I was saying goodbye to friends, teachers and fond memories, but I was ready. I had done what everyone had said was impossible, attained a college degree. Look out world here I come! |
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| Once in a lifetime |
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| Me with my degree |
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| My Family at graduation Back Mom, Dave, Sam. Front Charlie, Me, and Andy |